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This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses recognized.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseBeginning of year5false0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse-2469000-2469000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-7793000-7793000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-11684000-11684000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. Such amount typically reflects adjustments similar to those made in preparing consolidated statements, including adjustments to eliminate intercompany gains and losses, and to amortize, if appropriate, any difference between cost and underlying equity in net assets of the investee at the date of investment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 9 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph b truefalseLoss from the investments6false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSoldCarryingAmountus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse35860003586000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-18874000-18874000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1061000-1061000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the carrying amount of the entity's equity method investment which has been sold. This item should be used only for purposes of disclosing the calculated gain or loss on disposal of the subject equity method investment and not for reporting the carrying value of equity method investments as presented on the entity's balance sheet. For reporting the carrying value of equity method investments presented on the entity's balance sheet, the EquityMethodInvestments (Equity Method Investments) element should be used.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDispositions and other adjustments7false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse4069700040697000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3958000039580000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse6624700066247000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses recognized.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEnd of year8true0etr_EquityMethodInvestmentsTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationEquity method investments.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringEquity method investments.falsefalseEquity Method Investments (Textuals) [Abstract]9false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributionsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 19 falsefalseInvestment in Entergy-Koch, cash distribution received10false0us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedPartyus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse5080000050800000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4930000049300000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse8250000082500000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryExpenses recognized during the period resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph c falsefalsePurchase of electricity generated11false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/equitymethodinvestmentsdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis} : Entergy Koch [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Entergy_Koch_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Koch [Member]us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_EntergyKochMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEntergy Koch [Member]12true0etr_EquityMethodInvestmentsDisclosureAbstractetrfalsenadurationEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalseInvestments of Entergy in companies that it accounts for under the equity method of accounting13false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph f Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a (1) falsefalsePercentage of ownership14false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDescriptionOfPrincipalActivitiesus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00Entergy-Koch was in the energy commodity marketing and trading business and gas transportation and storage business until the fourth quarter 2004 when these businesses were sold. In December 2009, Entergy reorganized its investment in Entergy-Koch, received a $25.6 million cash distribution, and received a distribution of certain software owned by the joint venture.falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringA description of the principal activities of an investee accounted for under the equity method.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDescription of ownership17false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/equitymethodinvestmentsdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis} : RS Cogen LLC [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Rs_Cogen_Llc_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseRS Cogen LLC [Member]us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RsCogenLlcMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRS Cogen LLC [Member]18true0etr_EquityMethodInvestmentsDisclosureAbstractetrfalsenadurationEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalseInvestments of Entergy in companies that it accounts for under the equity method of accounting19false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph f Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a (1) falsefalsePercentage of ownership20false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDescriptionOfPrincipalActivitiesus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00Co-generation project that produces power and steam on an industrial and merchant basis in the Lake Charles, Louisiana area.falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringA description of the principal activities of an investee accounted for under the equity method.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDescription of ownership23false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/equitymethodinvestmentsdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis} : Top Deer [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Top_Deer_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTop Deer [Member]us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_TopDeerMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTop Deer [Member]24true0etr_EquityMethodInvestmentsDisclosureAbstractetrfalsenadurationEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringEquity Method Investments Disclosure.falsefalseInvestments of Entergy in companies that it accounts for under the equity method of accounting25false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph f Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a (1) falsefalsePercentage of ownership26false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDescriptionOfPrincipalActivitiesus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00Wind-powered electric generation joint venture.falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringA description of the principal activities of an investee accounted for under the equity method.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseDescription of ownership320Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue