Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									$ 10,302,079	$ 11,229,073	$ 11,487,577
Deprec., amort. & decomm.									1,329,345	1,292,797	1,281,630
Interest and investment income									127,776	128,994	184,077
Interest expense									606,596	551,521	610,146
Interest expense									569,284	513,627	575,167
Total income taxes as reported									30,855	286,263	617,239
Consolidated net income	301,850	342,670	370,583	(146,740)	160,027	633,069	320,598	253,678	868,363	1,367,372	1,270,305
Total assets	43,202,502				40,701,699				43,202,502	40,701,699	38,685,276
Investment in affiliates - at equity	46,738				44,876				46,738	44,876	40,697	39,580
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									3,760,966	3,399,657	2,453,997
Utility Plants [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									8,005,091	8,841,828	8,941,332
Deprec., amort. & decomm.									1,076,845	1,027,597	1,006,385
Interest and investment income									150,292	158,737	182,493
Interest expense									476,485	455,739	493,241
Total income taxes as reported									49,340	27,311	454,227
Consolidated net income									960,322	1,123,866	829,719
Total assets	35,438,130				32,734,549				35,438,130	32,734,549	31,080,240
Investment in affiliates - at equity	199				199				199	199	199
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									3,182,695	2,351,913	1,766,609
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									2,326,309	2,413,773	2,566,156
Deprec., amort. & decomm.									248,143	260,643	270,663
Interest and investment income									105,062	99,762	140,729
Interest expense									17,900	33,067	102,728
Total income taxes as reported									61,329	176,286	247,775
Consolidated net income									40,427	491,846	450,104
Total assets	9,623,345				9,796,529				9,623,345	9,796,529	10,102,817
Investment in affiliates - at equity	46,539				44,677				46,539	44,677	40,498
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									577,652	1,048,146	687,313
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									4,048	4,157	7,442
Deprec., amort. & decomm.									4,357	4,557	4,582
Interest and investment income									30,656	16,368	73,808
Interest expense									126,913	60,113	98,594
Total income taxes as reported									(79,814)	82,666	(84,763)
Consolidated net income									(26,167)	(137,760)	84,039
Total assets	(509,985)				228,691				(509,985)	228,691	(714,968)
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									619	(402)	75
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									(33,369)	(30,685)	(27,353)
Interest and investment income									(158,234)	(145,873)	(212,953)
Interest expense									(52,014)	(35,292)	(119,396)
Consolidated net income									(106,219)	(110,580)	(93,557)
Total assets	$ (1,348,988)				$ (2,058,070)				$ (1,348,988)	$ (2,058,070)	$ (1,782,813)