Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined Contribution Plans (Details 8) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
One percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rate
Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries,1 Percentage Point Increase, impact on the APBO	$ 218,138
Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries,1 Percentage Point Increase, Impact on the sum of service costs and interest cost	23,318
Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries,1 Percentage Point Decrease, impact on the APBO	(183,492)
Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries,1 Percentage Point Decrease, Impact on the sum of service costs and interest cost	$ (18,721)

The effect of a one-percentage- point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph m

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (m)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration