Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$ 68,883	$ 59,340	$ 52,313
Interest cost	82,561	74,522	76,078
Expected return on assets	(34,503)	(29,477)	(26,213)
Amortization of transition obligation	3,177	3,183	3,728
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(18,163)	(14,070)	(12,060)
Recognized net loss	36,448	21,192	17,270
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	138,403	114,690	111,116
Prior service credit for period		(29,507)	(50,548)
Net (gain)/loss	92,584	236,594	82,189
Amortization of transition obligation	(3,177)	(3,183)	(3,728)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	18,163	14,070	12,060
Amortization of net loss	(36,448)	(21,192)	(17,270)
Total	71,122	196,782	22,703
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	209,525	311,472	133,819
Transition obligation		3,177	3,183
Prior service cost	(13,336)	(18,163)	(14,070)
Net loss	45,217	43,127	21,192
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	26,500	24,000	27,200
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	150,763	121,961	104,956
Interest cost	260,929	236,992	231,206
Expected return on assets	(317,423)	(301,276)	(259,608)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	2,733	3,350	4,658
Recognized net loss	167,279	92,977	65,901
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	264,281	154,004	147,113
Net (gain)/loss	552,303	1,045,624	232,279
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(2,733)	(3,350)	(4,658)
Amortization of net loss	(167,279)	(92,977)	(65,901)
Total	382,291	949,297	161,720
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	646,572	1,103,301	308,833
Prior service cost	2,268	2,733	3,350
Net loss	219,805	169,064	92,977
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	9,089	8,053	7,372
Interest cost	14,452	13,742	14,515
Expected return on assets	(14,029)	(11,528)	(9,780)
Amortization of transition obligation	820	821	821
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(530)	(530)	(786)
Recognized net loss	8,305	6,436	6,758
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	18,107	16,994	18,900
Prior service credit for period			(5,023)
Net (gain)/loss	9,066	32,241	4,032
Amortization of transition obligation	(820)	(821)	(821)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	530	530	786
Amortization of net loss	(8,305)	(6,436)	(6,758)
Total	471	25,514	(7,784)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		42,508	11,116
Transition obligation		820	821
Prior service cost	(530)	(530)	(530)
Net loss	8,163	8,365	6,436
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	464	498	501
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	22,169	18,072	15,775
Interest cost	55,686	51,965	49,277
Expected return on assets	(65,763)	(62,434)	(50,635)
Amortization of transition obligation	200	459	782
Recognized net loss	40,772	25,681	16,506
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	53,064	33,743	31,705
Net (gain)/loss	105,133	217,989	97,117
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(200)	(459)	(782)
Amortization of net loss	(40,772)	(25,681)	(16,506)
Total	64,161	191,849	79,829
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	117,225	225,592	111,534
Prior service cost	23	200	459
Net loss	50,175	41,309	25,681
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	7,521	6,158	5,481
Interest cost	9,590	8,298	8,574
Amortization of transition obligation	238	239	238
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(824)	(824)	(306)
Recognized net loss	4,737	2,896	2,653
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	21,262	16,767	16,640
Prior service credit for period			(3,109)
Net (gain)/loss	5,818	28,721	6,583
Amortization of transition obligation	(238)	(239)	(238)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	824	824	306
Amortization of net loss	(4,737)	(2,896)	(2,653)
Total	1,667	26,410	889
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		43,177	17,529
Transition obligation		238	239
Prior service cost	(824)	(824)	(824)
Net loss	4,693	4,778	2,896
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	158	167	162
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	12,273	9,848	8,462
Interest cost	25,679	23,713	24,377
Expected return on assets	(34,370)	(33,358)	(30,752)
Amortization of transition obligation	19	79	302
Recognized net loss	16,173	9,118	7,622
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	19,774	9,400	10,011
Net (gain)/loss	77,207	102,329	4,748
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(19)	(79)	(302)
Amortization of net loss	(16,173)	(9,118)	(7,622)
Total	61,015	93,132	(3,176)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	80,789	102,532	6,835
Prior service cost	9	19	79
Net loss	23,731	16,295	9,118
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	7,796	6,540	5,483
Interest cost	9,781	8,767	9,075
Amortization of transition obligation	382	383	382
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(247)	(247)	467
Recognized net loss	4,359	2,793	2,440
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	22,071	18,236	17,847
Prior service credit for period			(3,204)
Net (gain)/loss	16,215	24,837	7,734
Amortization of transition obligation	(382)	(383)	(382)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	247	247	(467)
Amortization of net loss	(4,359)	(2,793)	(2,440)
Total	11,721	21,908	1,241
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		40,144	19,088
Transition obligation		382	383
Prior service cost	(247)	(247)	(247)
Net loss	5,149	4,398	2,793
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	12	14	102
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	14,675	11,543	9,770
Interest cost	35,201	32,636	28,541
Expected return on assets	(40,836)	(38,866)	(32,775)
Amortization of transition obligation	208	280	474
Recognized net loss	28,197	17,990	8,604
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	37,445	23,583	14,614
Net (gain)/loss	76,163	137,100	99,129
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(208)	(280)	(474)
Amortization of net loss	(28,197)	(17,990)	(8,604)
Total	47,758	118,830	90,051
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	85,203	142,413	104,665
Prior service cost	83	208	280
Net loss	34,906	28,486	17,990
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,093	2,632	2,200
Interest cost	4,716	4,370	4,370
Expected return on assets	(4,521)	(3,906)	(3,551)
Amortization of transition obligation	351	352	351
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(139)	(139)	(246)
Recognized net loss	2,920	2,160	1,903
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	6,420	5,469	5,027
Prior service credit for period			(1,529)
Net (gain)/loss	271	12,598	5,765
Amortization of transition obligation	(351)	(352)	(351)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	139	139	246
Amortization of net loss	(2,920)	(2,160)	(1,903)
Total	(2,861)	10,225	2,228
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		15,694	7,255
Transition obligation		351	352
Prior service cost	(139)	(139)	(139)
Net loss	2,650	2,926	2,160
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	183	190	206
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,410	5,308	4,651
Interest cost	16,279	15,637	15,230
Expected return on assets	(20,945)	(20,152)	(17,252)
Amortization of transition obligation	30	152	318
Recognized net loss	10,532	6,717	4,361
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	12,306	7,662	7,308
Net (gain)/loss	27,106	56,714	21,801
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(30)	(152)	(318)
Amortization of net loss	(10,532)	(6,717)	(4,361)
Total	16,544	49,845	17,122
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	28,850	57,507	24,430
Prior service cost	10	30	152
Net loss	13,375	10,667	6,717
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,689	1,448	1,389
Interest cost	3,422	3,225	3,598
Expected return on assets	(3,711)	(3,200)	(2,899)
Amortization of transition obligation	1,189	1,190	1,661
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	38	38	361
Recognized net loss	1,559	968	1,095
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	4,186	3,669	5,205
Prior service credit for period			(1,587)
Net (gain)/loss	2,260	8,946	(478)
Amortization of transition obligation	(1,189)	(1,190)	(1,661)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(38)	(38)	(361)
Amortization of net loss	(1,559)	(968)	(1,095)
Total	(526)	6,750	(5,182)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		10,419	23
Transition obligation		1,189	1,190
Prior service cost	38	38	38
Net loss	1,587	1,562	968
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	79	65	26
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	2,824	2,242	2,063
Interest cost	7,608	7,050	6,040
Expected return on assets	(8,860)	(8,455)	(7,236)
Amortization of transition obligation	7	35	177
Recognized net loss	6,878	4,666	2,544
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	8,457	5,538	3,588
Net (gain)/loss	14,282	29,297	22,600
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(7)	(35)	(177)
Amortization of net loss	(6,878)	(4,666)	(2,544)
Total	7,397	24,596	19,879
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	15,854	30,134	23,467
Prior service cost	2	7	35
Net loss	8,046	6,935	4,666
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,651	3,074	2,789
Interest cost	6,650	5,945	6,326
Expected return on assets	(8,415)	(7,496)	(6,872)
Amortization of transition obligation	187	187	265
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(428)	(428)	76
Recognized net loss	4,320	2,803	3,008
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	5,965	4,085	5,592
Prior service credit for period			(2,871)
Net (gain)/loss	191	23,125	922
Amortization of transition obligation	(187)	(187)	(265)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	428	428	(76)
Amortization of net loss	(4,320)	(2,803)	(3,008)
Total	(3,888)	20,563	(5,298)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		24,648	294
Transition obligation		187	187
Prior service cost	(428)	(428)	(428)
Net loss	3,905	4,329	2,803
Entergy Texas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	648	763	683
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	5,684	4,788	4,267
Interest cost	16,823	15,971	15,869
Expected return on assets	(22,325)	(22,005)	(20,549)
Amortization of transition obligation	15	65	237
Recognized net loss	10,179	5,579	3,208
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	10,376	4,398	3,032
Net (gain)/loss	28,745	64,662	17,316
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(15)	(65)	(237)
Amortization of net loss	(10,179)	(5,579)	(3,208)
Total	18,551	59,018	13,871
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	28,927	63,416	16,903
Prior service cost	6	15	65
Net loss	13,494	10,261	5,579
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,293	2,642	2,251
Interest cost	3,028	2,666	2,562
Expected return on assets	(2,601)	(2,115)	(1,870)
Amortization of transition obligation	8	9	8
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(63)	(589)	(763)
Recognized net loss	1,970	1,477	1,301
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	5,635	4,090	3,489
Prior service credit for period			(519)
Net (gain)/loss	2,043	8,499	4,067
Amortization of transition obligation	(8)	(9)	(8)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	63	589	763
Amortization of net loss	(1,970)	(1,477)	(1,301)
Total	128	7,602	3,002
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)		11,692	6,491
Transition obligation		8	9
Prior service cost	(62)	(63)	(589)
Net loss	1,915	1,994	1,477
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	5,920	4,941	4,132
Interest cost	12,987	11,758	9,009
Expected return on assets	(16,436)	(15,138)	(11,808)
Amortization of transition obligation	13	16	34
Recognized net loss	9,001	5,284	523
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Total	11,485	6,861	1,890
Net (gain)/loss	10,266	52,876	56,756
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(13)	(16)	(34)
Amortization of net loss	(9,001)	(5,284)	(523)
Total	1,252	47,576	56,199
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	12,737	54,437	58,089
Prior service cost	10	13	16
Net loss	$ 9,717	$ 9,135	$ 5,284