Rate And Regulatory Matters (Correction Of Regulatory Asset For Income Taxes, Income Statement And Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	$ 232,503	$ (119,131)	$ 110,140	$ 196,072
Net income	342,670	633,069	566,513	1,207,346
Earnings applicable to common equity	337,088	628,054	550,405	1,192,300
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			111,228	(5,979)
Changes in other regulatory assets			49,250	250,747
Other operating activities			115,364	40,801
As Previously Reported [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes		38,429
Net income		51,946
Earnings applicable to common equity		51,740
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	56,024	68,727	92,973	122,028
Net income	82,551	80,945	142,180	156,851
Earnings applicable to common equity	80,833	79,227	137,025	151,696
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			97,641	(17,536)
Changes in other regulatory assets			51,089	23,478
Other operating activities			(51,661)	(24,593)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	29,184	37,205	41,220	92,083
Net income	50,210	53,170	128,958	150,197
Earnings applicable to common equity	50,004	52,964	128,339	149,578
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			51,415	(24,492)
Changes in other regulatory assets			(5,648)	21,858
Other operating activities			(4,028)	7,127
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Previously Reported [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes				95,352
Net income				146,928
Earnings applicable to common equity				146,309
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued				(21,223)
Changes in other regulatory assets				27,171
Other operating activities				1,814
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Corrected [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes				92,083
Net income				150,197
Earnings applicable to common equity				149,578
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued				(24,492)
Changes in other regulatory assets				21,858
Other operating activities				7,127
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	42,628	(391,518)	(127,977)	(354,521)
Net income	80,208	337,722	244,217	453,125
Earnings applicable to common equity	78,470	335,984	239,004	447,912
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			(94,765)	(273,339)
Changes in other regulatory assets			(42,781)	84,811
Other operating activities			(82,978)	(199,966)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	18,516	19,988	37,102	42,913
Net income	27,080	33,169	51,676	74,312
Earnings applicable to common equity	26,373	32,462	49,555	72,191
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			39,703	34,947
Changes in other regulatory assets			10,526	(2,311)
Other operating activities			3,845	(14,483)
Entergy New Orleans
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	6,168	14,848	6,276	24,658
Net income	10,555	18,943	17,781	36,077
Earnings applicable to common equity	10,314	18,702	17,057	35,353
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			12,269	(9,129)
Changes in other regulatory assets			(10,748)	(6,769)
Other operating activities			5,852	(412)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	12,982	23,562	26,547	47,356
Net income	19,234	40,875	37,182	79,698
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			28,140	51,650
Changes in other regulatory assets			72,559	55,428
Other operating activities			(255)	(12,021)
System Energy [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	20,619	20,222	44,751	47,395
Net income	30,616	14,263	92,520	55,585
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			106,167	(53,032)
Changes in other regulatory assets			(38,909)	53,727
Other operating activities			$ 22,502	$ (25,445)