<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Gulf States, Inc. financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044570
<NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 006
   <NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,435,119
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    368,588
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         833,284
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       851,869
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,488,860
<COMMON>                                       114,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,152,575
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            248,258
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,514,888
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          147,729
<PREFERRED>                                    201,444
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,677,768
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  140,515
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     59,904
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                34,153
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,712,459
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,488,860
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,490,526
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            68,686
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,228,932
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,228,932
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        261,594
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,912
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 277,506
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       120,992
<NET-INCOME>                                    87,828
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     14,335
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   73,493
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       109,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      101,855
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         322,178
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0