Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Total Income Taxes [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Entergy Corporation, Income	$ 154,139	$ 628,054	$ 315,583	$ 248,663	$ 228,291	$ 492,886	$ 315,266	$ 213,799	$ 1,346,439		$ 1,250,242		$ 1,231,092
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries									20,933		20,063		19,958
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	160,027	633,069	320,598	253,678	233,307	497,901	320,283	218,814	1,367,372	[1]	1,270,305	[1]	1,251,050	[1]
Income taxes									286,263		617,239		632,740
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									1,653,635		1,887,544		1,883,790
Computed at statutory rate (35%)									578,772		660,640		659,327
Increases (reductions) in tax resulting from:
State income taxes net of federal income tax effect									93,940		40,530		65,241
Regulatory differences - utility plant items									39,970		31,473		57,383
Equity component of AFUDC									(30,184)		(16,542)		(17,741)
Amortization of investment tax credits									(14,962)		(15,980)		(16,745)
Net-of-tax regulatory liability									65,357
Deferred tax reversal on PPA settlement									(421,819)
Write-off of reorganization costs											(19,974)
Tax law change-Medicare Part D											13,616
Decommissioning trust fund basis													(7,917)
Capital gains / (losses)													(28,051)
Flow-through / permanent differences									(17,848)		(26,370)		(31,745)
Provision for uncertain tax positions									2,698		(43,115)		(17,435)
Valuation allowance													(40,795)
Other - net									(9,661)		(7,039)		11,218
Income tax expense from continuing operations									$ 286,263		$ 617,239		$ 632,740
Effective Income Tax Rate									17.30%		32.70%		33.60%

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2011, 2010 and 2009 include $13.3 million of preferred dividends on subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.