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It is being amortized...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse241400000241400000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the 12/31/1992 accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at the adoption of SFAS 106. It is being amortized over 20 years.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAccumulated benefit obligations7false0etr_PeriodOfAmortizationOfAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligationsetrfalsenadurationPeriod Of Amortization Of Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2020falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerPeriod Of Amortization Of Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligations.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePeriod of amortization of accumulated postretirement benefit obligations in years8false0us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureFor an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseSignificant Concentration of credit risk9false0etr_ExpectedCurrentYearPensionContributionsetrfalsedebitdurationExpected current year pension contributions.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse368800000368800000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryExpected current year pension contributions.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseExpected 2011 pension contributions10false0etr_ExpectedCurrentYearPostretirementContributionsetrfalsedebitdurationExpected current year postretirement contributions.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse7800000078000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryExpected current year postretirement contributions.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseExpected 2011 postretirement contributions11false0us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugBenefitReductionInAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligationForSubsidyus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse267000000267000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse215000000215000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of the reduction in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for the government subsidy related to prescription drug benefits attributed to past service. Disclosure relates to the first period in which an employer includes the effects of the subsidy in measuring the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS106-2 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a falsefalseReduction in Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO)12false0etr_ReductionInOtherPostretirementBenefitCostetrfalsedebitdurationReduction in other postretirement benefit cost.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2660000026600000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2400000024000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2470000024700000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReduction in other postretirement benefit cost.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseReduction in other postretirement benefit 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benefits.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2720000027200000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2360000023600000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1720000017200000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNon-Qualified pension cost including settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseNon-qualified pension cost15false0etr_SettlementChargeRelatedToPaymentOfLumpSumBenefitsOutOfPlanetrfalsedebitdurationSettlement charge related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the non-qualified pension plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse93000009300000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse67000006700000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySettlement charge related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the non-qualified pension plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseSettlement charge related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the non-qualified pension plans16false0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansCurrentLiabilitiesus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3982500039825000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse5498900054989000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor a classified balance sheet, the amount recognized in balance sheet as a current liability associated with an underfunded defined benefit plan.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 3 falsefalseCurrent liabilities17false0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse21753640002175364000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse22410580002241058000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability for underfunded plans recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement defined benefit plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: 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available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse4180000041800000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4190000041900000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3840000038400000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 11 falsefalseSubsidiaries' contribution to defined contribution plan21false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/retirementotherpostretirementbenefitsanddefinedcontributionplansdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] 12/31/1992 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec1992_Registrant_Subsidiary_One_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984instant1992-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryOneMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEntergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]22true0etr_RetirementOtherPostretirementBenefitsAndDefinedContributionPlansTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationRetirement Other Postretirement Benefits And Defined Contribution Plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRetirement Other Postretirement Benefits And Defined Contribution Plans.falsefalseRetirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined Contribution Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]23false0etr_ActuariallyDeterminedAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligationEarnedByRetireesAndActiveEmployeesetrfalsecreditinstantThe amount of the 12/31/1992 accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at the adoption of SFAS 106. 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The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels. For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph e falsefalseAccumulated benefit obligation27false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRateus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse002019falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:gYearItemTypepositiveintegerThe year when the ultimate health care cost trend rate is expected to be reached.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph l falsefalseYear at which the the trend rate reaches ultimate trend rate28false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse43012180004301218000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse38377440003837744000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse33053150003305315000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetary1) For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value as of a date of all benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to that date. The projected benefit obligation is measured using assumptions as to future compensation levels if the pension benefit formula is based on those future compensation levels (pay-related, final-pay, final-average-pay, or career-average-pay plans). For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same. 2) For other postretirement defined benefit plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered to a particular date. Prior to an employee's full eligibility date, the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of a particular date for an employee is the portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to that employee's service rendered to that date; on and after the full eligibility date, the accumulated and expected postretirement benefit obligations for an employee are the same.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph a Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph E1 falsefalseProjected benefit obligation29false0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-1084950000-1084950000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1230470000-1230470000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability for underfunded plans recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement defined benefit plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 6 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 3 falsefalseProjected Benefit Obligations30false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTaxus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse299948000299948000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse301623000301623000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe pretax total of net (gain) loss, prior service cost (credit), and transition assets (obligations), as well as minimum pension liability if still remaining, included in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan(s) because they have yet to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph i falsefalseUnamortized transition asset, Prior service cost and Net loss recognized in accumulated comprehensive income before tax31false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/retirementotherpostretirementbenefitsanddefinedcontributionplansdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Other Postretirement [Member] 1/1/2009 - 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