Rate And Regulatory Matters (Details Of Other Regulatory Assets Included In Entergy Corporation And Subsidiaries) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	$ 5,025,912		$ 4,636,871
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	1,221,636		1,126,911
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	409,653		333,898
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	913,562		814,472
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	401,471		393,387
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	202,003		178,815
Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	1,114,536		1,178,067
System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	330,074		287,796
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	422,600		395,900
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	210,200		187,700
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	6,100		12,800
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	136,900		125,800
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	5,600		5,300
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	3,600		3,400
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	1,200		1,300
Asset Retirement Obligation [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	58,900	[1]	59,600	[1]
Deferred Capacity [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	6,800
Deferred Capacity [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	6,800
Grand Gulf Fuel - Non-current And Power Management Rider [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	35,100		12,400
Grand Gulf Fuel - Non-current And Power Management Rider [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	17,300		4,600
Grand Gulf Fuel - Non-current And Power Management Rider [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	17,800		7,800
New Nuclear Generation Development Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	56,800		56,800
New Nuclear Generation Development Costs [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	56,800		56,800
Gas Hedging Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	8,300		30,300
Gas Hedging Costs [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	2,600		8,600
Gas Hedging Costs [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	3,400		12,400
Gas Hedging Costs [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	2,200		7,800
Gas Hedging Costs [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets			1,500
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	2,866,300		2,542,000
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	831,200		768,300
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	300,500		231,300
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	475,600		427,900
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	234,600		221,100
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	134,600		127,600
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	258,800		244,900
Pension And Post Retirement Costs [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	198,200	[1]	197,600	[1]
Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets			2,400
Postretirement Benefits [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets			2,400
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	970,800		996,400
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	115,200		114,700
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	18,900		10,200
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	74,500		9,700
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	9,200		30,700
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	15,100		8,600
Provision For Storm Damages, Including Hurricane Costs [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	737,900		822,500
Removal Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	155,700		81,200
Removal Costs [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	57,400		48,500
Removal Costs [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	29,900		16,300
Removal Costs [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	11,500		4,500
Removal Costs [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	56,800	[1]	11,800	[1]
River Bend AFUDC [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	22,400		24,300
River Bend AFUDC [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	22,400		24,300
Spindletop Gas Storage Facility [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	29,400		31,000
Spindletop Gas Storage Facility [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	29,400		31,000
Transition To Competition Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	82,100		89,200
Transition To Competition Costs [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	82,100		89,200
Little Gypsy Cost Proceeding [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	177,600		198,400
Little Gypsy Cost Proceeding [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	177,600		198,400
Incremental Ice Storm Costs [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	10,000		10,500
Incremental Ice Storm Costs [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	10,000		10,500
Michoud Plant Maintenance [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	11,000		12,900
Michoud Plant Maintenance [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	11,000		12,900
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	95,900		108,800
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	31,500		34,700
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	9,900		11,600
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	17,600		20,000
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	9,600		10,700
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	2,300		2,600
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	9,400		10,800
Unamortized Loss on Reacquired Debt [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	15,600		18,200
Other [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	75,100		44,400
Other [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	6,200		4,000
Other [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	13,100		4,100
Other [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	28,000		20,300
Other [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	8,300		4,700
Other [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	5,500		5,900
Other [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	13,600		4,900
Other [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Details of Other regulatory assets [Abstract]
Other Regulatory Assets	$ 600		$ 600

[1] Does not earn a return on investment, but is offset by related liabilities.