Preferred Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	$ 186,511	$ 216,738
Preferred Units, Preferred Stock Value	94,000	94,000
Preferred Equity, Authorized	7,115,105	7,115,105
Preferred Equity, Outstanding	5,955,105	6,260,345
Preferred Equity	280,511	310,738
Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Preferred Equity, Authorized	6,115,105	6,115,105
Preferred Equity, Outstanding	5,955,105	5,955,105
Preferred Equity	280,511	280,511
Entergy Arkansas
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	116,350	116,350
Entergy Arkansas | Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized	3,413,500	3,413,500
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized Outstanding	3,413,500	3,413,500
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	116,350	116,350
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Preferred Units, Outstanding	100,000	100,000
Preferred Units, Preferred Stock Value	10,000	10,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Preferred Units, Shares/Units Authorized	100,000	100,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	100,000	100,000
Preferred Units, Preferred Stock Value	10,000	10,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	100,000	100,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Preferred Units, Shares/Units Authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	840,000	840,000
Preferred Units, Preferred Stock Value	84,000	84,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	50,381	50,381
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized	1,403,807	1,403,807
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized Outstanding	1,403,807	1,403,807
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	50,381	50,381
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	19,780	19,780
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Utility [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized	197,798	197,798
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized Outstanding	197,798	197,798
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	19,780	19,780
Entergy Asset Management [Member] | Non Nuclear Wholesale Assets [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Shares/Units Authorized Outstanding		305,240
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	0	29,375
Other [Member]
Preferred stock or preferred membership Interests without sinking fund
Redeemable Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Value	$ 0	$ 852