Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Actuarially Estimated Effect Of Future Medicare Subsidies And The Actual Subsidies Received) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	$ 1,331
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	779
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	908
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	434
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	396
Entergy Texas [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	644
System Energy [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	170
APBO [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(62,877)	(55,684)
APBO [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(32,055)	(27,834)
APBO [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(36,015)	(31,693)
APBO [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(19,507)	(17,687)
APBO [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(10,902)	(10,500)
APBO [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(21,164)	(19,346)
APBO [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(13,586)	(11,036)
Other Postretirement [Member]
Medicare subsidies received	5,999	4,551
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(5,791)	(6,309)	(5,254)
Medicare subsidies received	1,331	1,025
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(3,660)	(3,923)	(3,401)
Medicare subsidies received	779	585
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(3,643)	(3,889)	(3,143)
Medicare subsidies received	908	683
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(1,799)	(2,016)	(1,649)
Medicare subsidies received	434	336
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(995)	(1,170)	(1,070)
Medicare subsidies received	396	358
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(1,321)	(1,528)	(1,109)
Medicare subsidies received	644	489
Other Postretirement [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies	(1,400)	(1,403)	(1,068)
Medicare subsidies received	$ 170	$ 116