Total accounts receivable Total accounts receivable Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Paid-in capital Depreciation and amortization Allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for doubtful accounts Decommissioning Decommissioning and asset retirement cost liabilities Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Obligations under capital leases Current Obligations under capital leases Obligations under capital leases Total cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Total cash and cash equivalent Temporary cash investments Interest - net of amount capitalized Deferred fuel Increase Decrease In Deferred Fuel Costs Fuel inventory Taxes accrued Interest accrued Increase Decrease In Interest Payable Net Receivables Changes in other regulatory assets Increase Decrease In Regulatory Assets And Liabilities Changes in short term borrowings - net Accounts payable COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Text Block] Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued 254,752,788 shares in 2009 and 248,174,087 shares in 2008 Purchased power CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL Liabilities Current Customer deposits LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT [Text Block] Decommissioning trust funds Deferred fuel costs Deferred Fuel Cost Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning RISK MANAGEMENT AND FAIR VALUES RISK MANAGEMENT AND FAIR VALUES [Text Block] Diluted Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents Electric Electric Utility Revenue Investment in affiliates - at equity Other than temporary impairment losses Other than temporary impairment losses CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries INCOME TAXES INCOME TAXES [Text Block] Income taxes Income Taxes Paid Net INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES Interest on long-term debt TOTAL Interest Expense Materials and supplies - at average cost Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Currently maturing long-term debt Long-term debt Long-Term Debt Noncurrent TOTAL TOTAL Long Term Investments Add: preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries Subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net cash flow used in financing activities Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities INVESTING ACTIVITIES Net cash flow used in investing activities Net cash flow used in investing activities OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net cash flow provided by operating activities Net cash flow provided by operating activities NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENTERGY CORPORATION NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENTERGY CORPORATION Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Other interest - net Other interest - net OTHER INCOME TOTAL Nonoperating Income Expense Other Other Noncash Expense DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS TOTAL Assets Noncurrent NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL Liabilities Noncurrent Total OPERATING INCOME Operating Income Loss Other working capital accounts Net derivative instrument fair value changes arising during the period Pension and other postretirement liabilities Total Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net of Tax Period Increase (Decrease) Net unrealized investment gains (losses) Prepayments and other Increase (decrease) in other investments Increase (decrease) in other investments Other Other, property and investments Miscellaneous - net Payment for purchase of plant Payment for purchase of plant Other Other Receivables Common stock Common stock Preferred stock Preferred stock RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS [Text Block] Pension and other postretirement liabilities Pension and other postretirement current liabilities Insurance proceeds received for property damages Common stock and treasury stock Long-term debt Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation) Provision for estimated losses and reserves RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS [Text Block] Nuclear fuel under capital lease Electric Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization Construction work in progress TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT System agreement cost equalization Regulatory Liability Current Other regulatory liabilities Retirement of long-term debt Retirement of long-term debt Repurchase of common stock Repurchase of common stock Securitization recovery trust account Adjustments related to implementation of new accounting pronouncements Retained earnings Competitive businesses BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION [Text Block] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Common stock issued in settlement of equity unit purchase contracts Long-term debt retired (equity unit notes) CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL Assets Current Customer Other operation and maintenance Othe Utilities Operating Expense Maintenance And Operations Diluted average number of common shares outstanding Basic average number of common shares outstanding Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction TOTAL ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS Interest and dividend income Other Other Liabilities Current Other Other Liabilities Noncurrent Dividends declared per common share STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION [Text Block] Accumulated deferred income taxes Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued Equity in losses of unconsolidated equity affiliates - net of dividends Subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund Temporary Equity Carrying Amount Property under capital lease Less - treasury stock, at cost (65,853,363 shares in 2009 and 58,815,518 shares in 2008) Basic Other Other Assets Noncurrent OPERATING EXPENSES TOTAL Operating Expenses Total Earnings per average common share INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued Foreign currency translation Total common shareholders' equity Total common shareholders' equity Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and gas purchased for resale PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET Public Utilities Property Plant And Equipment Net Income taxes PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Allowance for equity funds used during construction Allowance for equity funds used during construction, other Notes payable Common stock issuances in settlement of equity unit purchase contracts Common stock issuances in settlement of equity unit purchase contracts Common stock issuances related to stock plans Accumulated deferred investment tax credits OPERATING REVENUES Natural gas Natural Gas Domestic Regulated Revenue TOTAL Utility Revenue Nuclear fuel Allowance for equity funds used during construction Allowance for equity funds used during construction, investing Construction/capital expenditures Construction/capital expenditures CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME Consolidated net income Net income attributable to Entergy Corporation Taxes other than income taxes Comprehensive Income Equity [Abstract] EQUITY TOTAL Balance, Beginning of period Balance, End of period Total, Equity Accounts payable Accounts Payable Current Accumulated provisions Taxes accrued Taxes Payable Current Pension and other postretirement liabilities, non-current Pension and other postretirement liabilities Dividends declared on common stock Interest accrued Regulatory asset for income taxes - net 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. SFAS regulatory asset - net Deferred fuel costs 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. Deferred fuel costs 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. Deferred Fuel Costs Current Liabilities Nuclear refueling outage expenses Amortization of costs deferred during nuclear refueling outages 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. Other regulatory charges (credits) - net Represents the debit or credit to defer certain costs or revenues because they will be recovered or returned to customers in the future. Proceeds from sale leaseback of nuclear fuel The net cash inflow from any material that is commonly used in the generation of nuclear energy. Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel Changes in transition charge account Changes in the account in which recoveries from customers through a transition charge are deposited and and from which payments are made to service the securitization bonds issued by Entergy Gulf States Reconstruction Funding. NYPA value sharing payment Payments made under amended value sharing agreements with NYPA. Cash paid (received) during the period for: Total after additions Total additions to the cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit: Retained Earnings Total After Additions Reserve for regulatory adjustments The provision recorded in the period the offset to which is either a reduction or an increase in a regulatory asset or liability. Nuclear fuel purchases The net cash outflow from any material that is commonly used in the generation of nuclear energy. Proceeds from the issuance of: Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs 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. System agreement cost equalization assets System agreement cost equalization 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. Natural gas Period end amount of property, plant and equipment (PPE) related to transmission and distribution of natural gas for resale owned by public utility. Regulatory asset [Abstract] Regulatory assets: Other regulatory assets 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. PAID-IN CAPITAL TOTAL Total Net additions or reductions during the period in the Excess of issue price over par or stated value of the entity's capital stock and amounts received from other transactions involving the entity's stock or stockholders Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Decommissioning Trust Asset Description [Text Block] DECOMMISSIONING TRUST FUNDS Describes decommissioning trust assets. May include disclosures such as the purpose of the funds, funding requirements, regulatory authorities and related cost recovery aspects. New Accounting Pronouncements [Text Block] NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted Accrued unbilled revenues Unbilled amounts due for services rendered or products shipped. This element is distinct from unbilled contracts receivables because this is based on noncontract transactions. Fuel inventory - at average cost Fossil fuel inventory held for consumption in the production of energy. Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Treasury stock, shares Cash Goodwill Commitments and Contingencies Income Tax Effects Allocated Directly to Equity, Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax Other Comprehensive Income, Available-for-sale Securities, Tax Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plans, Tax Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Comprehensive Income [Member] Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Description Document Period End Date Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Deferred Tax Liabilities Current Accumulated deferred income taxes Redemption of preferred stock Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities Document Information [Text Block] Entity [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities [Text Block] REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITIES, LINES OF CREDIT AND SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS Long-term Debt [Text Block] LONG-TERM DEBT Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Text Block] ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] LEASES Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block] EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS Acquisitions And Dispositions [Text Block] ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS Description of a business combination(s) completed during the period. Also, disclosure includes the facts and circumstances leading to the completed or expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the gain or loss recognized and the income statement caption that includes that gain or loss, amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported, the segment in which the disposal group was reported, and the classification and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group. Reorganization under Chapter 11 of US Bankruptcy Code Disclosure [Text Block] ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA Schedule to Financial Statements [Abstract] Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Preferred Equity [Text Block] Disclosure pertaining to an entity's preferred stock, including par or stated value per share, number and dollar amount of share subscriptions, shares authorized, shares issued, shares outstanding, share conversion features and other information necessary to a fair presentation. If more than one issue is outstanding, state the title of each issue and the corresponding dollar amount; number of shares authorized, issued and outstanding. PREFERRED EQUITY Common Equity [Text Block] Disclosure pertaining to an entity's treasury stock, including the average cost per share, carrying basis for each class of treasury stock, description of share repurchase program authorized by an entity's Board of Directors, number of shares held for each class of treasury stock, and other information necessary to a fair presentation. Also, disclosure includes restrictions on the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on common and preferred stock. COMMON EQUITY Capital Stock And Other Expenses Capital Stock and Other Expenses Expenses incurred in connection with the issuance and sale of capital stock. Preferred equity Effect Of Reconsolidation Of Entergy New Orleans On Cash And Cash Equivalents Effect of the reconsolidation of Entergy New Orleans on cash and cash equivalents Effect of the reconsolidation of Entergy New Orleans on cash and cash equivalents Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Noncash financing activities: Consolidated net income Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow Changes in working capital: Dividends paid: Cash and cash equivalents: Accounts receivable: Common Shareholders' Equity: ASSETS Assets [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities And Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Property, plant, and Equipment Variable Interest Entities Proceeds From Long Term Debt Issued For Purposes Of Refunding Prior Long Term Debt Proceeds from long-term debt issued for the purpose of refunding prior long-term debt Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes Accumulated deferred income taxes