EX-99 26 a99b.htm
           

Exhibit 99(b)

             
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. 
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
 
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, September 30,
   
  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
             
Fixed charges, as defined:            
  Total Interest charges $153,034 $158,949 $174,368 $144,840 $157,343 $137,791
  Interest applicable to rentals 16,451 18,307 18,520 16,483 16,694 15,411
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 169,485 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 153,202
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 29,355 15,742 13,017 6,190 6,485 7,024
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $198,840 $192,998 $205,905 $167,513 $180,522 $160,226
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
Income (loss) from continuing operations before extraordinary items and            
  the cumulative effect of accounting changes $125,000 $180,343 $179,444 $174,078 $63,895 $148,386
  Add:            
    Income Taxes 75,165 103,603 82,038 65,997 24,249 95,563
    Fixed charges as above 169,485 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 153,202
             
Total earnings, as defined (b) $369,650 $461,202 $454,370 $401,398 $262,181 $397,151
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.18 2.60 2.36 2.49 1.51 2.59
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
 preferred dividends, as defined 1.86 2.39 2.21 2.40 1.45 2.48
             
(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.