<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>1.0.0.3</Version>
  <ReportType />
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>1000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME</LongName>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>2000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</LongName>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>3000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</LongName>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>3100 - Statement - PARENTHETICAL DATA FOR CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</LongName>
      <ShortName>PARENTHETICAL DATA FOR CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>4000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID IN CAPITAL</LongName>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID IN CAPITAL</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>4100 - Statement - PARENTHETICAL DATA FOR CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL</LongName>
      <ShortName>PARENTHETICAL DATA FOR CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6000 - Disclosure - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</LongName>
      <ShortName>COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6010 - Disclosure - RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS</LongName>
      <ShortName>RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6020 - Disclosure - EQUITY</LongName>
      <ShortName>EQUITY</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6030 - Disclosure - LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT</LongName>
      <ShortName>LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6040 - Disclosure - STOCK BASED COMPENSATION</LongName>
      <ShortName>STOCK BASED COMPENSATION</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6050 - Disclosure - RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS</LongName>
      <ShortName>RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6060 - Disclosure - BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION</LongName>
      <ShortName>BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6070 - Disclosure - RISK MANAGEMENT AND FAIR VALUES</LongName>
      <ShortName>RISK MANAGEMENT AND FAIR VALUES</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6080 - Disclosure - DECOMMISSIONING TRUST FUNDS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and System Energy)</LongName>
      <ShortName>DECOMMISSIONING TRUST FUNDS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and System Energy)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6090 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES</LongName>
      <ShortName>INCOME TAXES</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>6100 - Disclosure - NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS</LongName>
      <ShortName>NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>995200 - Document - Document Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document Information</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>995400 - Document - Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Entity Information</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>69</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>8</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>194</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00047</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00048</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00049</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00017</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00035</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00026</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00029</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00002</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00064</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00005</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00063</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>39</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00019</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00056</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00068</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00038</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00062</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>7</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00057</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00055</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00066</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00054</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00013</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00030</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00061</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00021</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00003</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00018</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00024</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00020</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00032</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>8</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00015</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00014</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00025</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00023</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>83</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00053</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00065</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00045</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00006</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00060</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00034</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00040</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00043</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00046</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00039</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00051</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00059</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00044</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00033</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>75</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00067</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>7</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00012</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00052</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00031</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00050</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00042</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00001</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00041</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>75</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00000</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00036</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00022</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00027</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>8</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00028</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>105</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00037</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00016</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00004</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00007</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00058</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>39</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>c00011</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
