Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit And Short-Term Borrowings (Credit Facilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Amount of Facility	$ 3,500
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	795.0
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Credit Facility Of Twenty Million [Member]
Expiration Date	Apr. 01, 2013
Amount of Facility	20
Interest Rate	1.81%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member]
Expiration Date	Mar. 01, 2017
Amount of Facility	150
Interest Rate	1.71%
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Expiration Date	Mar. 01, 2017
Amount of Facility	150
Interest Rate	1.71%
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Expiration Date	Mar. 01, 2017
Amount of Facility	200
Interest Rate	1.71%
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Credit Facility Of Thirty Five Million [Member]
Expiration Date	May 01, 2013
Amount of Facility	35
Interest Rate	1.96%
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Credit Facility Of Twenty Five Million [Member]
Expiration Date	May 01, 2013
Amount of Facility	25
Interest Rate	1.96%
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Credit Facility Of Ten Million [Member]
Expiration Date	May 01, 2013
Amount of Facility	10
Interest Rate	1.96%
Entergy Texas [Member]
Expiration Date	Mar. 01, 2017
Amount of Facility	150
Interest Rate	1.96%
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Expiration Date	Nov. 01, 2013
Interest Rate	1.69%
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Credit Facility Of Twenty Five Million [Member]
Amount of Facility	$ 25
Maximum [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Credit Facility Of Twenty Million [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%