Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Estimated Future Benefit Payments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	$ 7,875
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	8,641
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	9,476
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	10,358
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	11,314
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	72,926
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	195,907
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	209,807
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	224,922
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	242,186
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	261,448
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	1,648,774
Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	62,087
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	12,440
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	13,412
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	10,174
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	12,248
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	67,055
Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	74,981
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	79,073
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	83,788
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	88,458
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	94,340
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	566,249
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	1,889
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	2,027
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	2,180
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	2,335
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	2,500
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	15,201
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	53,108
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	54,438
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	56,495
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	58,770
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	61,203
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	357,927
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	208
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	357
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	335
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	289
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	288
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	1,846
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	16,034
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	16,442
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	17,094
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	17,650
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	18,334
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	101,723
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	835
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	910
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	992
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	1,079
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	1,172
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	7,446
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	19,664
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	20,964
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	22,611
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	24,361
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	26,293
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	166,599
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	257
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	267
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	247
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	239
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	284
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	1,004
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	8,381
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	8,867
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	9,499
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	10,087
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	10,745
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	64,193
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	1,022
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	1,101
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	1,186
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	1,274
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	1,370
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	8,492
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	31,021
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	32,216
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	33,392
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	34,867
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	36,648
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	216,903
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	18
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	16
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	15
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	13
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	12
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	41
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	10,174
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	10,588
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	10,980
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	11,440
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	11,978
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	69,660
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	584
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	639
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	691
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	747
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	805
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	4,912
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	15,356
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	16,248
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	17,148
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	18,170
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	19,171
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	110,145
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	118
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	114
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	110
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	103
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	100
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	601
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	4,624
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	4,901
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	5,194
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	5,482
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	5,811
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	33,712
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	478
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	497
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	515
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	533
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	551
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	2,991
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	5,906
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	6,221
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	6,660
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	7,125
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	7,691
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	48,039
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	25
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	24
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	24
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	23
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	23
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	196
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	4,859
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	4,937
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	5,025
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	5,097
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	5,196
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	26,592
Entergy Texas [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	722
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	770
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	821
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	874
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	928
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	5,463
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	16,341
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	17,067
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	17,906
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	18,777
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	19,778
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	114,345
Entergy Texas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	853
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	789
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	756
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	891
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	766
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	3,304
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	6,942
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	7,218
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	7,536
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	7,894
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	8,331
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	47,415
System Energy [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2013	265
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2014	297
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2015	331
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2016	368
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2017	408
Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts, 2018 - 2022	2,797
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	8,067
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	8,571
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	9,083
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	9,772
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	10,393
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	70,026
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2013	2,423
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2014	2,563
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2015	2,755
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2016	2,894
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2017	3,136
Estimated Future Benefits Payments, 2018 - 2022	$ 19,435