1.0.0.3 false CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands false 1 $ false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u001 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 2 $ false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u001 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 6 Cash and cash equivalents: 4 etr_CashAndCashEquivalentsAbstract etr false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 7 Cash 5 us-gaap_Cash us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 62895000 62895 false false 2 true true 115876000 115876 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Temporary cash investments 5 us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1067885000 1067885 false false 2 false true 1804615000 1804615 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Total cash and cash equivalents 5 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1130780000 1130780 false false 2 false true 1920491000 1920491 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 10 Securitization recovery trust account 4 us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 20421000 20421 false false 2 false true 12062000 12062 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Accounts receivable: 4 etr_AccountsReceivableAbstract etr false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 12 Customer 5 us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 648203000 648203 false false 2 false true 734204000 734204 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Allowance for doubtful accounts 5 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -29589000 -29589 false false 2 false true -25610000 -25610 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Other 5 us-gaap_OtherReceivables us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 144625000 144625 false false 2 false true 206627000 206627 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Accrued unbilled revenues 5 etr_AccruedUnbilledRevenues etr false debit instant monetary Unbilled amounts due for services rendered or products shipped. This element is distinct from unbilled contracts receivables... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 319176000 319176 false false 2 false true 282914000 282914 false false Unbilled amounts due for services rendered or products shipped. This element is distinct from unbilled contracts receivables because this is based on noncontract transactions. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Total accounts receivable 5 us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1082415000 1082415 false false 2 false true 1198135000 1198135 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 17 Deferred fuel costs 4 us-gaap_DeferredFuelCost us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 58971000 58971 false false 2 false true 167092000 167092 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Accumulated deferred income taxes 4 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 7307000 7307 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Fuel inventory - at average cost 4 etr_FuelInventoryAtAverageCost etr false debit instant monetary Fossil fuel inventory held for consumption in the production of energy. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 206315000 206315 false false 2 false true 216145000 216145 false false Fossil fuel inventory held for consumption in the production of energy. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Materials and supplies - at average cost 4 us-gaap_OtherInventorySupplies us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 816105000 816105 false false 2 false true 776170000 776170 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs 4 etr_DeferredNuclearRefuelingOutageCosts etr false debit instant monetary Costs deferred during a nuclear refueling outage and amortized over the estimated period to the next outage because these... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 226336000 226336 false false 2 false true 221803000 221803 false false Costs deferred during a nuclear refueling outage and amortized over the estimated period to the next outage because these refueling outage expenses are incurred to prepare the units to operate for the next operating cycle without having to be taken off line. No authoritative reference available. false 22 System agreement cost equalization 4 etr_SystemAgreementCostEqualizationAssets etr false debit instant monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the System Agreement cost equalization payments that are expected to be... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 167225000 167225 false false 2 false true 394000000 394000 false false Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the System Agreement cost equalization payments that are expected to be recovered through Entergy Arkansas' production cost allocation rider within one year. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Prepayments and other 4 us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 258235000 258235 false false 2 false true 247184000 247184 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_AssetsCurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3966803000 3966803 false false 2 false true 5160389000 5160389 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 25 OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS 3 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 26 Investment in affiliates - at equity 4 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 68634000 68634 false false 2 false true 66247000 66247 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Decommissioning trust funds 4 us-gaap_DecommissioningFundInvestments us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3142309000 3142309 false false 2 false true 2832243000 2832243 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation) 4 us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 224555000 224555 false false 2 false true 231115000 231115 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Other 4 us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 115926000 115926 false false 2 false true 107939000 107939 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_LongTermInvestments us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3551424000 3551424 false false 2 false true 3237544000 3237544 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 31 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 3 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 32 Electric 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 35894147000 35894147 false false 2 false true 34495406000 34495406 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Property under capital lease 4 us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsGross us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 744432000 744432 false false 2 false true 745504000 745504 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Natural gas 4 etr_NaturalGas etr false debit instant monetary Period end amount of property, plant and equipment (PPE) related to transmission and distribution of natural gas for resale... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 310990000 310990 false false 2 false true 303769000 303769 false false Period end amount of property, plant and equipment (PPE) related to transmission and distribution of natural gas for resale owned by public utility. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Construction work in progress 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentConstructionWorkInProgress us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1504699000 1504699 false false 2 false true 1712761000 1712761 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Nuclear fuel under capital lease 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNuclearFuelUnderCapitalLease us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 496912000 496912 false false 2 false true 465374000 465374 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 37 Nuclear fuel 4 us-gaap_NuclearFuelNetOfAmortization us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 612625000 612625 false false 2 false true 636813000 636813 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39563805000 39563805 false false 2 false true 38359627000 38359627 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 39 Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 16597538000 16597538 false false 2 false true 15930513000 15930513 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET 4 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 22966267000 22966267 false false 2 false true 22429114000 22429114 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 42 Regulatory assets: 4 etr_RegulatoryAssetAbstract etr false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 43 Regulatory asset for income taxes - net 5 etr_SfasRegulatoryAssetNet etr false debit instant monetary Costs incurred for income taxes that would otherwise be charged to expense. These costs represent probable future revenues... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 625469000 625469 false false 2 false true 581719000 581719 false false Costs incurred for income taxes that would otherwise be charged to expense. These costs represent probable future revenues and are expected to be recovered from customers through the ratemaking process. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Other regulatory assets 5 etr_OtherRegulatoryAssets etr false debit instant monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are not expected to be recovered... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3492131000 3492131 false false 2 false true 3615104000 3615104 false false Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are not expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle if longer and are not specifically broken out elsewhere in the balance sheet. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Deferred fuel costs 5 etr_DeferredFuelCosts etr false debit instant monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized fuel costs of a regulated entity that are not expected to be... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 172202000 172202 false false 2 false true 168122000 168122 false false Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized fuel costs of a regulated entity that are not expected to be recovered from customers within one year. No authoritative reference available. false 46 Goodwill 4 us-gaap_Goodwill us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 377172000 377172 false false 2 false true 377172000 377172 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Other 4 us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1018867000 1018867 false false 2 false true 1047654000 1047654 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 48 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 5685841000 5685841 false false 2 false true 5789771000 5789771 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 49 TOTAL ASSETS 3 us-gaap_Assets us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 36170335000 36170335 false false 2 false true 36616818000 36616818 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 50 CURRENT LIABILITIES 3 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 51 Currently maturing long-term debt 4 us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 957816000 957816 false false 2 false true 544460000 544460 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 52 Notes payable 4 us-gaap_ShortTermBankLoansAndNotesPayable us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 55031000 55031 false false 2 false true 55034000 55034 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 53 Accounts payable 4 us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 818349000 818349 false false 2 false true 1475745000 1475745 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 54 Customer deposits 4 us-gaap_CustomerDepositsCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 320632000 320632 false false 2 false true 302303000 302303 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 55 Taxes accrued 4 us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 122141000 122141 false false 2 false true 75210000 75210 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 56 Accumulated deferred income taxes 4 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 15597000 15597 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 57 Interest accrued 4 us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 175134000 175134 false false 2 false true 187310000 187310 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 58 Deferred fuel costs 4 etr_DeferredFuelCostsCurrentLiabilities etr false credit instant monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized fuel costs of a regulated entity that are expected to be returned... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 275609000 275609 false false 2 false true 183539000 183539 false false Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized fuel costs of a regulated entity that are expected to be returned to customers through rate adjustments within one year. No authoritative reference available. false 59 Obligations under capital leases 4 us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 162893000 162893 false false 2 false true 162393000 162393 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 60 Pension and other postretirement liabilities 4 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansCurrentLiabilities us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39367000 39367 false false 2 false true 46288000 46288 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 61 System agreement cost equalization 4 us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 255859000 255859 false false 2 false true 460315000 460315 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 62 Other 4 us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 175766000 175766 false false 2 false true 273297000 273297 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 63 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3374194000 3374194 false false 2 false true 3765894000 3765894 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 64 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 3 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrentAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 65 Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued 4 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 7150319000 7150319 false false 2 false true 6565770000 6565770 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 66 Accumulated deferred investment tax credits 4 us-gaap_AccumulatedDeferredInvestmentTaxCredit us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 312688000 312688 false false 2 false true 325570000 325570 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 67 Obligations under capital leases 4 us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 374177000 374177 false false 2 false true 343093000 343093 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 68 Other regulatory liabilities 4 us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 387351000 387351 false false 2 false true 280643000 280643 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 69 Decommissioning and asset retirement cost liabilities 4 us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2810824000 2810824 false false 2 false true 2677495000 2677495 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 70 Accumulated provisions 4 us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 138316000 138316 false false 2 false true 147452000 147452 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 71 Pension and other postretirement liabilities 4 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2132200000 2132200 false false 2 false true 2177993000 2177993 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 72 Long-term debt 4 us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 9972091000 9972091 false false 2 false true 11174289000 11174289 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 73 Other 4 us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 725605000 725605 false false 2 false true 880998000 880998 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 74 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_LiabilitiesNoncurrent us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 24003571000 24003571 false false 2 false true 24573303000 24573303 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 75 Commitments and Contingencies 3 us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingencies2009 us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 76 Subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund 3 us-gaap_TemporaryEquityCarryingAmount us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 215223000 215223 false false 2 false true 217029000 217029 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 78 Common Shareholders' Equity: 4 etr_CommonShareholdersEquity etr false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 79 Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued 254,752,788 shares in 2009 and 248,174,087 shares in 2008 5 us-gaap_CommonStockValue us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2548000 2548 false false 2 false true 2482000 2482 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 80 Paid-in capital 5 us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 5369474000 5369474 false false 2 false true 4869303000 4869303 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 81 Retained earnings 5 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 7871051000 7871051 false false 2 false true 7382719000 7382719 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 82 Accumulated other comprehensive loss 5 us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -17561000 -17561 false false 2 false true -112698000 -112698 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 83 Less - treasury stock, at cost (65,853,363 shares in 2009 and 58,815,518 shares in 2008) 5 us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4742165000 4742165 false false 2 false true 4175214000 4175214 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 84 Total common shareholders' equity 5 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 8483347000 8483347 false false 2 false true 7966592000 7966592 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 85 Subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund 4 us-gaap_MinorityInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 94000000 94000 false false 2 false true 94000000 94000 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 86 TOTAL 4 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 8577347000 8577347 false false 2 false true 8060592000 8060592 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 87 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 3 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 36170335000 36170335 false false 2 true true 36616818000 36616818 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true false 2 80 false Thousands UnKnown UnKnown false true