Exhibit 12(a)
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                                    Entergy Arkansas, Inc.                                                            
                   Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
             Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
                                                                                       
                                                                                                                       
<S>                                                          <C>      <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
                                                             1992     1993      1994        1995      1996      1997
                                                                            
Fixed charges, as defined:                                                                                             
  Total Interest Charges                                    124,101   119,591   110,814     115,337   106,716   104,165
  Interest applicable to rentals                             17,657    16,860    19,140      18,158    19,121    17,529
                                                            -----------------------------------------------------------
Total fixed charges, as defined                             141,758   136,451   129,954     133,495   125,837   121,694
                                                                                                                       
Preferred dividends, as defined (a)                          32,195    30,334    23,234      27,636    24,731    16,073
                                                           ------------------------------------------------------------
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $173,953  $166,785  $153,188    $161,131  $150,568  $137,767
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Earnings as defined:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                       
  Net Income                                               $130,529  $205,297  $142,263    $136,666  $157,798  $127,977
  Add:                                                                                                                 
    Provision for income taxes:                                                                                        
       Total                                                 50,590    82,337    29,220      72,081    84,445    59,220
    Fixed charges as above                                  141,758   136,451   129,954     133,495   125,837   121,694
                                                           ------------------------------------------------------------
Total earnings, as defined                                 $322,877  $424,085  $301,437    $342,242  $368,080  $308,891
                                                           ============================================================
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined                 2.28      3.11      2.32        2.56      2.93      2.54
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and                                                           
 preferred dividends, as defined                               1.86      2.54      1.97        2.12      2.44      2.24
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(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement 
     by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
                                                                                       
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