<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from System
Energy Resources, Inc. financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 
1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000202584
<NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 018
   <NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, 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>                    2,429,099
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    104,279
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         386,995
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       480,987
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,401,360
<COMMON>                                       789,350
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             62,802
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 852,152
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,174,350
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  160,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     37,683
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                36,156
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,141,019
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,401,360
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      445,025
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            61,355
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     232,117
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     232,117
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        212,908
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,359
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 223,267
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        87,407
<NET-INCOME>                                    74,505
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   74,505
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        72,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       87,298
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         184,922
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0