2.2.0.25truefalse0618 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/variableinterestentitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Entergy Louisiana [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Registrant_Subsidiary_Two_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiaryTwoMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEntergy Louisiana [Member]2true0etr_VariableInterestEntitiesTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationVariable Interest Entities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringVariable Interest Entities.falsefalseVariable Interest Entities (Textuals) [Abstract]3false0etr_PaymentsOnLeaseIncludingInterestetrfalsedebitdurationPayments on lease,including interest.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3510000035.1falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3250000032.5falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2260000022.6falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPayments on lease,including interest.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePayments on lease, including interest4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/variableinterestentitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : System Energy [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Registrant_Subsidiary_Six_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSystem Energy [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiarySixMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : System Energy [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Registrant_Subsidiary_Six_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSystem Energy [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiarySixMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : System Energy [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Registrant_Subsidiary_Six_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSystem Energy [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_RegistrantSubsidiarySixMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseSystem Energy [Member]5true0etr_VariableInterestEntitiesTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationVariable Interest Entities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringVariable Interest Entities.falsefalseVariable Interest Entities (Textuals) [Abstract]6false0etr_PaymentsOnLeaseIncludingInterestetrfalsedebitdurationPayments on lease,including interest.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse4860000048.6falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4780000047.8falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4710000047.1falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPayments on lease,including interest.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePayments on lease, including interest7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/variableinterestentitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis} : Waterford Three [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Waterford_Three_Member_2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseWaterford Three [Member]us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_WaterfordThreeMemberus-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseWaterford Three [Member]8true0etr_VariableInterestEntitiesTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationVariable Interest Entities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringVariable Interest Entities.falsefalseVariable Interest Entities (Textuals) [Abstract]9false0etr_PercentageInPowerPlantOwnedByVieetrfalsenadurationPercentage of the VIE's voting interest owned by the registrant. In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, trust, or...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0930.093falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of the VIE's voting interest owned by the registrant. In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, trust, or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. A VIE often holds financial assets, including loans or receivables, real estate or other property. A VIE may be essentially passive or it may engage in research and development or other activities on behalf of another company.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage in power plant owned by VIE10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://entergy.com/role/variableinterestentitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis} : Grand Gulf [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Grand_Gulf_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000065984duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseGrand Gulf [Member]us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldietr_GrandGulfMemberus-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseGrand Gulf [Member]11true0etr_VariableInterestEntitiesTextualsAbstractetrfalsenadurationVariable Interest Entities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringVariable Interest Entities.falsefalseVariable Interest Entities (Textuals) [Abstract]12false0etr_PercentageInPowerPlantOwnedByVieetrfalsenadurationPercentage of the VIE's voting interest owned by the registrant. In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, trust, or...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.1150.115falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of the VIE's voting interest owned by the registrant. In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, trust, or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either (a) does not have equity investors with voting rights or (b) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. A VIE often holds financial assets, including loans or receivables, real estate or other property. A VIE may be essentially passive or it may engage in research and development or other activities on behalf of another company.No authoritative reference available.falsefalsePercentage in power plant owned by VIE312Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue