Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current:
Federal	$ 452,713	$ 145,161	$ (433,105)
Foreign	130	131	154
State	152,711	19,313	(108,552)
Total	605,554	164,605	(541,503)
Deferred income tax benefits	(311,708)	468,698	1,191,418
Investment tax credit adjustments - net	(7,583)	(16,064)	(17,175)
Income tax expense from continuing operations	286,263	617,239	632,740
Entergy Arkansas
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	132,765	112,944	81,756
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	88,313	75,878	89,185
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	(370,211)	66,546	45,050
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	28,801	50,111	43,395
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	15,862	16,601	15,346
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	49,492	42,383	36,915
System Energy [Member]
Current:
Income tax expense from continuing operations	$ 74,953	$ 56,049	$ 96,901