Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines of Credit and Short Term Borrowings and Long Term Debt (Details Textuals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Arkansas [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]		Mar. 31, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member] Senior Secured Investment Bonds [Member]	May 31, 2011 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Texas [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Texas [Member]		Sep. 30, 2011 System Energy [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 9% Series H due June 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 5.69% Series I due July 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 3.23% Series J due July 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 5.56% Series N due May 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 5.41% Series O due July 2012 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 5.69% Series E due July 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 6.29% Series F due September 2013 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 5.33% Series G due April 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 3.30% Series F, due March 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage																		9.00%	5.69%	3.23%	5.56%	5.41%	5.69%	6.29%	5.33%	3.30%
Borrowings	$ 1,870,000,000	$ 0		$ 0			$ 0						$ 0		$ 0
Notes payable to NYPA	148,000,000
Long term DOE obligations		181,000,000
Capital lease obligations							188,000,000										179,000,000
Redemption of first mortgage bond percentage										5.92%	4.65%
Portion of the proceeds to repay outstanding debt										100,000,000	80,000,000
Issuances of first mortgage bond percentage						4.80%				3.25%	6.00%		4.10%
Proceeds from series first mortgage bonds						200,000,000				125,000,000	150,000,000		75,000,000
Amount of Facility	3,463,000,000	78,000,000	[1]	100,000,000	[2]		200,000,000	[3]					100,000,000	[4]	100,000,000	[4]
Consolidated debt ratio to be maintained or less of its total capitalization as per covenants	65% or less	65% or less		65% or less			65% or less					65% or less			65% or less
Senior secured investment recovery bonds issued									207,200,000
Bond coupon rate									2.04%
Expected maturity date									Jun. 01, 2021
2012									25,600,000
2013									16,600,000
2014									21,900,000
2015									20,500,000
2016									21,600,000
Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines of Credit and Short Term Borrowings (Textuals) [Abstract]
Entergy Corporation credit facility expiration date	August 2012
Entergy Corporation credit facility borrowing capacity	$ 3,500,000,000
Facility fee percentage of commitment amount, minimum	0.09%
Facility fee percentage of commitment amount, maximum	0.15%
Facility fee percentage of commitment amount	0.125%
Weighted average interest rate	0.746%
Consolidated debt ratio of capitalization	70% or less
Commitment fee percentage of commitment amount	0.20%

[1] The credit facility requires Entergy Arkansas to maintain a debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. Borrowings under the Entergy Arkansas credit facility may be secured by a security interest in its accounts receivable.

[2] The credit facility allows Entergy Gulf States Louisiana to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of September 30, 2011, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit facility requires Entergy Gulf States Louisiana to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization.

[3] The credit facility allows Entergy Louisiana to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of September 30, 2011, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit facility requires Entergy Louisiana to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization.

[4] The credit facility allows Entergy Texas to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the facility. As of September 30, 2011, no letters of credit were outstanding. The credit facility requires Entergy Texas to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. Pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement securitization bonds are excluded from debt and capitalization in calculating the debt ratio.