Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	$ 868,363	$ 1,367,372	$ 1,270,305
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	1,771,649	1,745,455	1,705,331
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(26,479)	(280,029)	718,987
Asset impairment	355,524	0	0
Gain on sale of business	0	0	(44,173)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(14,202)	28,091	(99,640)
Fuel inventory	(11,604)	5,393	(10,665)
Accounts payable	(6,779)	(131,970)	216,635
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	55,484	580,042	(116,988)
Interest accrued	1,152	(34,172)	17,651
Deferred fuel	(99,987)	(55,686)	8,909
Other working capital accounts	(151,989)	41,875	(160,326)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(24,808)	(11,086)	265,284
Changes in other regulatory assets	(398,428)	(673,244)	339,408
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	644,099	962,461	(80,844)
Other	(21,710)	(415,685)	(103,793)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	2,940,285	3,128,817	3,926,081
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(2,674,650)	(2,040,027)	(1,974,286)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	96,131	86,252	59,381
Nuclear fuel purchases	(557,960)	(641,493)	(407,711)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	0	0	0
Payment for purchase of plant	(456,356)	(646,137)	0
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0	6,531	228,171
Insurance proceeds received for property damages	0	0	7,894
Changes in transition charge account	4,265	(7,260)	(29,945)
NYPA value sharing payment	(72,000)	(72,000)	(72,000)
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(8,957)	(6,425)	(296,614)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	27,884	0	9,925
Decrease (increase) in other investments	15,175	(11,623)	24,956
Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs	109,105	0	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	2,074,055	1,360,346	2,606,383
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(2,196,489)	(1,475,017)	(2,730,377)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(3,639,797)	(3,446,853)	(2,574,223)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	3,478,361	2,990,881	3,870,694
Proceeds from Issuance of Redeemable Preferred Stock	51,000	0	0
Common stock and treasury stock	62,886	46,185	51,163
Retirement of long-term debt	(3,130,233)	(2,437,372)	(4,178,127)
Redemption of subsidiary common and preferred stock	0	30,308	0
Repurchase of common stock	0	(234,632)	(878,576)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	687,675	(6,501)	(8,512)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(589,209)	(589,605)	(603,854)
Preferred stock	(22,329)	(20,933)	(20,063)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	538,151	(282,285)	(1,767,275)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(508)	287	338
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(161,869)	(600,034)	(415,079)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	694,438	1,294,472	1,709,551
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	532,569	694,438	1,294,472
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	546,125	532,271	534,004
Income taxes	49,214	(2,042)	32,144
Non Cash Financing Activities [Abstract]
Long-term debt retired (equity unit notes)	0	0	0
Common stock issued in settlement of equity unit purchase contracts	0	0	0
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	152,365	164,891	172,618
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	357,913	339,819	347,587
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(67,482)	94,410	100,071
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(30,786)	(11,021)	34,214
Fuel inventory	(68)	(11,190)	(22,639)
Accounts payable	(179,009)	160,983	(14,777)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	178,688	122,974	(63,188)
Interest accrued	(1,463)	2,861	426
Deferred fuel	112,471	(148,274)	61,300
Other working capital accounts	55,735	(3,855)	31,550
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	182	(2,330)	(5,247)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(88,119)	(215,841)	(87,087)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	75,725	123,156	(32,496)
Other	(57,035)	(52,459)	(10,072)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	509,117	564,124	512,260
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(361,858)	(382,776)	(291,267)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	12,441	9,607	4,118
Nuclear fuel purchases	(215,968)	(148,657)	(82,371)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	96,700	0	0
Payment for purchase of plant	(253,043)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0	0	2,489
Decrease (increase) in other investments	0	0	2,415
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	144,275	125,408	367,266
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(154,608)	(140,724)	(400,832)
Change in money pool receivable - net	9,327	24,101	(12,604)
Investment in affiliates	0	10,994	0
Remittances to transition charge account	(15,613)	(15,650)	(2,412)
Payments from transition charge account	15,099	14,173	0
Other	0	0	18
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(723,248)	(503,524)	(413,180)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	252,347	54,743	684,851
Retirement of long-term debt	(12,230)	(45,310)	(589,500)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	2,821	(28,863)	5,711
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(10,000)	(117,800)	(173,400)
Preferred stock	(6,873)	(6,873)	(6,873)
Other	0	0	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	226,065	(144,103)	(79,211)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,934	(83,503)	19,869
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,599	106,102	86,233
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	34,533	22,599	106,102
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	79,271	75,650	85,639
Income taxes	(20,480)	(89,994)	66,403
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	158,977	201,604	174,319
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	214,929	207,753	194,265
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	92,523	(4,845)	104,339
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	87,089	(82,221)	(30,732)
Fuel inventory	(3,718)	2,578	3,471
Accounts payable	(1,725)	(58,981)	80,874
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(86,346)	148,313	(8,176)
Interest accrued	(647)	(1,177)	537
Deferred fuel	(96,230)	74,877	(20,050)
Other working capital accounts	(5,548)	(4,600)	13,068
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(2,222)	1,353	83,011
Changes in other regulatory assets	(73,082)	(77,713)	141,216
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	83,440	112,736	(14,041)
Other	(21,232)	(37,562)	4,029
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	346,208	482,115	726,130
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(284,458)	(219,307)	(237,251)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	8,694	9,094	5,513
Nuclear fuel purchases	(51,610)	(87,901)	(47,785)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	67,632	9,647	0
Payment for purchase of plant	0	0	0
Insurance proceeds received for property damages	0	0	2,243
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(99)	(124)	(90,073)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	3,364	0	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	0	0	3,136
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	131,042	76,844	100,825
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(150,601)	(94,922)	(115,055)
Change in money pool receivable - net	23,596	39,407	(12,872)
Investment in affiliates	0	0	(150,264)
Proceeds from sale of investment	51,000	0	0
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(201,440)	(267,262)	(541,583)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	74,251	0	306,234
Retirement of long-term debt	(70,840)	(47,340)	(344,841)
Change in money pool payable - net	7,074	0	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(29,400)	5,200	(10,100)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(114,200)	(301,950)	(124,300)
Preferred stock	(825)	(825)	(827)
Other	13	(266)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(133,927)	(345,181)	(173,834)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,841	(130,328)	10,713
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	24,845	155,173	144,460
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	35,686	24,845	155,173
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	80,848	82,413	97,803
Income taxes	89,191	(56,289)	(16,803)
Non Cash Financing Activities [Abstract]
Repayment by Entergy Texas of assumed long-term debt	0	0	167,742
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	281,081	473,923	231,435
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	293,774	288,459	285,330
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(59,069)	(327,046)	28,896
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	43,850	(50,014)	(6,245)
Fuel inventory	336	(23,916)	0
Accounts payable	40,085	21,489	86,103
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(39,275)	56,348	(25,993)
Interest accrued	729	4,646	(2,991)
Deferred fuel	(93,103)	7,308	57,594
Other working capital accounts	(79,771)	34,824	(51,771)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(16,586)	(10,496)	203,255
Changes in other regulatory assets	(116,249)	(95,909)	150,952
Other regulatory liabilities	81,259	206,643	43,188
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	80,027	114,489	49,378
Other	30,610	(221,406)	(116,797)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	447,698	479,342	932,334
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(787,075)	(433,876)	(428,373)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	39,610	33,033	26,875
Nuclear fuel purchases	(159,501)	(155,932)	(617)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	62,248	11,570	0
Payment for purchase of plant	0	(299,589)	0
Insurance proceeds received for property damages	0	0	188
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	0	0	(200,166)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	13,669	0	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	0	0	9,353
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	27,577	19,909	44,500
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(39,374)	(30,728)	(53,579)
Change in money pool receivable - net	(9,433)	49,887	2,920
Investment in affiliates	0	0	(262,430)
Remittances to transition charge account	(30,042)	(5,200)	0
Payments from transition charge account	30,860	0	0
Other	595	(277)	0
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(850,866)	(811,203)	(861,329)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	663,975	1,170,441	498,801
Retirement of long-term debt	(50,899)	(785,547)	(567,326)
Change in money pool payable - net	(118,415)	118,415	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(39,735)	71,326	(24,125)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(15,600)	(358,200)	0
Preferred stock	(6,950)	(6,950)	(6,950)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	432,376	209,485	(99,600)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	29,208	(122,376)	(28,595)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	878	123,254	151,849
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	30,086	878	123,254
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	130,934	108,072	118,676
Income taxes	(41,423)	(39,555)	28,266
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	46,768	108,729	85,377
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	97,768	93,119	89,875
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	58,221	(3,443)	48,744
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	42,222	5,488	(42,790)
Fuel inventory	(6,202)	(35,621)	(1,003)
Accounts payable	(3,796)	(7,059)	1,906
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	6,791	13,535	(12,817)
Interest accrued	(3,324)	456	1,915
Deferred fuel	(42,331)	18,998	(76,064)
Other working capital accounts	(6,859)	(27,480)	46,101
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(2,469)	(1,177)	(1,937)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(6,501)	(83,399)	(5,780)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	16,782	39,183	(6,525)
Other	5,336	(21,733)	(6,895)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	202,406	99,596	120,107
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(175,544)	(165,998)	(223,787)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	3,955	7,755	6,655
Payment for purchase of plant	(202,668)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0	868	3,951
Decrease (increase) in other investments	8	18	7,615
Change in money pool receivable - net	(16,878)	0	31,435
Investment in affiliates	0	5,527	0
Other	0	0	35
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(391,127)	(151,830)	(174,096)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	246,502	268,418	76,727
Retirement of long-term debt	0	(180,000)	(100,000)
Change in money pool payable - net	(1,999)	(31,256)	33,255
Dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(3,300)	(43,400)
Preferred stock	(2,828)	(2,828)	(2,828)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	241,675	51,034	(36,246)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	52,954	(1,200)	(90,235)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16	1,216	91,451
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	52,970	16	1,216
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	58,043	49,192	51,250
Income taxes	(696)	22,094	16,401
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	17,065	35,976	31,114
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	36,726	35,026	35,354
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	15,016	(35,276)	(47,611)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(29,046)	24,275	(6,289)
Fuel inventory	2,029	(1,160)	(113)
Accounts payable	4,828	(3,502)	3,307
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(1,377)	0	0
Interest accrued	180	12	(1,121)
Deferred fuel	(9,464)	4,694	10,923
Other working capital accounts	14,239	(7,764)	4,174
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(812)	4,637	(4,785)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(23,188)	(42,667)	(10,073)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	9,773	25,202	5,042
Other	16,120	5,474	29,043
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	52,089	44,927	48,965
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(86,373)	(56,600)	(80,218)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	791	622	667
Insurance proceeds received for property damages	0	0	115
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(8,609)	(6,043)	0
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	10,000	0	3,546
Change in money pool receivable - net	6,151	12,746	44,329
Investment in affiliates	0	3,256	0
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(78,040)	(46,019)	(31,561)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	28,422	0	24,349
Retirement of long-term debt	0	0	(129,993)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(1,700)	(42,000)	(47,000)
Preferred stock	(965)	(965)	(965)
Other	(249)	(1,095)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	25,508	(44,060)	(153,609)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(443)	(45,152)	(136,205)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,834	54,986	191,191
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	9,391	9,834	54,986
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	10,183	10,109	13,550
Income taxes	(12,952)	39,403	68,160
Entergy Texas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	41,971	80,845	66,200
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	88,307	79,263	76,057
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	123,167	56,219	63,418
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	32,912	(39,640)	(41,820)
Fuel inventory	(1,504)	(12)	1,085
Accounts payable	19,980	(11,442)	23,415
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(93,979)	11,760	(49,030)
Interest accrued	(929)	(582)	3,102
Deferred fuel	28,670	(12,766)	(25,318)
Other working capital accounts	(58,691)	42,518	(115,753)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	1,585	(296)	(3,390)
Changes in other regulatory assets	62,166	(15,611)	51,637
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	17,330	64,686	(5,998)
Other	10,096	(16,105)	(510)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	271,081	238,837	43,095
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(181,404)	(173,462)	(162,822)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	4,537	3,781	5,661
Insurance proceeds received for property damages	0	0	5,293
Decrease (increase) in other investments	0	0	2,318
Change in money pool receivable - net	44,016	(49,519)	55,645
Remittances to transition charge account	(88,367)	(92,786)	(89,939)
Payments from transition charge account	92,327	92,203	62,405
Other	(13)	0	0
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(128,904)	(219,783)	(121,439)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	74,092	198,435
Retirement of long-term debt	(59,322)	(57,419)	(199,052)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(87,180)	(5,780)	(86,400)
Other	(728)	0	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(147,230)	10,893	(87,017)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,053)	29,947	(165,361)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	65,289	35,342	200,703
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	60,236	65,289	35,342
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	92,632	89,792	87,147
Income taxes	(2,207)	(13,538)	48,713
System Energy [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	111,866	64,197	82,624
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	235,881	229,715	219,552
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	43,651	14,923	(1,536)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(12,557)	(5,512)	(728)
Accounts payable	(10,511)	17,275	(14,351)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	89,022	160,494	1,327
Interest accrued	(2,157)	(38,305)	3,503
Other working capital accounts	(22,917)	11,260	(15,287)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	0	0	(2,009)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(44,004)	10,874	(4,948)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	2,898	34,474	29,797
Other	20,828	(68,714)	(47,539)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	412,000	430,681	250,405
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(450,236)	(234,753)	(156,766)
Proceeds from the transfer of development costs	0	0	100,280
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	26,102	22,359	9,892
Nuclear fuel purchases	(194,314)	(59,755)	(129,504)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	52,708	12,420	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	0	0	25,560
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	349,427	203,444	322,789
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(379,833)	(232,636)	(349,398)
Change in money pool receivable - net	93,509	(22,476)	(7,441)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(502,637)	(311,397)	(184,588)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	297,908	0	55,385
Retirement of long-term debt	(262,867)	(78,161)	(41,715)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	39,986	(38,264)	20,003
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(79,700)	(76,000)	(100,200)
Other	(6,225)	(5,474)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(10,898)	(197,899)	(66,527)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(101,535)	(78,615)	(710)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	185,157	263,772	264,482
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	83,622	185,157	263,772
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	34,012	40,719	35,540
Income taxes	$ (56,808)	$ (100,889)	$ 55,963