<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from System 
Energy's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 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>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,395,165 
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    113,282
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         444,091 
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       478,667
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,431,205
<COMMON>                                       789,350
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0 
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             94,759
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 884,109
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,159,830
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  175,820
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     22,786
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                41,835
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,146,825
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,431,205
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      602,373
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            77,263
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     319,730
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     319,730
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        282,643
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              15,351
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 297,994
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       114,255
<NET-INCOME>                                   106,476
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  106,476
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        72,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      107,923
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         263,204
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0