Income Taxes (Schedule Of Income Tax Expenses From Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Federal	$ (47,851)	$ 452,713	$ 145,161
Foreign	143	130	131
State	(41,516)	152,711	19,313
Total	(89,224)	605,554	164,605
Deferred and non-current -- net	131,130	(311,708)	468,698
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(11,051)	(7,583)	(16,064)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	30,855	286,263	617,239
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Federal	64,069	(12,448)	114,821
State	6,712	(1,751)	(9,200)
Total	70,781	(14,199)	105,621
Deferred and non-current -- net	26,042	148,978	10,328
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(2,017)	(2,014)	(3,005)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	94,806	132,765	112,944
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Federal	(66,081)	(30,106)	196,230
State	9,535	15,950	481
Total	(56,546)	(14,156)	196,711
Deferred and non-current -- net	112,390	107,250	(101,007)
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(3,228)	(3,358)	(3,407)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	52,616	89,736	92,297
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Federal	(132,999)	(136,800)	73,174
State	(1,269)	34,832	(4,324)
Total	(134,268)	(101,968)	68,850
Deferred and non-current -- net	8,463	(265,046)	918
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(3,117)	(3,197)	(3,222)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	(128,922)	(370,211)	66,546
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Federal	3,188	(9,466)	13,722
State	(4,425)	6,069	5,959
Total	(1,237)	(3,397)	19,681
Deferred and non-current -- net	59,045	32,380	31,415
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	871	(182)	(985)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	58,679	28,801	50,111
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Federal	(9,484)	14,641	(114,382)
State	(1,617)	1,724	1,427
Total	(11,101)	16,365	(112,955)
Deferred and non-current -- net	18,586	(201)	129,880
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(245)	(302)	(324)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	7,240	15,862	16,601
Entergy Texas [Member]
Federal	(114,677)	(33,045)	(10,607)
State	4,933	3,153	1,060
Total	(109,744)	(29,892)	(9,547)
Deferred and non-current -- net	144,471	80,993	53,539
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(1,609)	(1,609)	(1,609)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	33,118	49,492	42,383
System Energy [Member]
Federal	(50,491)	139,529	(4,102)
State	(8,544)	16,825	3,328
Total	(59,035)	156,354	(774)
Deferred and non-current -- net	137,832	(84,505)	60,305
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(1,682)	3,104	(3,482)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	$ 77,115	$ 74,953	$ 56,049