Common Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Equity [Abstract]

Common stock and treasury stock shares activity for Entergy

	2011					2010					2009
	Common Shares Issued		Treasury Shares			Common Shares Issued		Treasury Shares			Common Shares Issued		Treasury Shares
Beginning Balance, January 1		254,752,788		76,006,920			254,752,788		65,634,580			248,174,087		58,815,518
Equity Unit Transaction		—		—			—		—			6,578,701		—
Repurchases		—		3,475,000			—		11,490,551			—		7,680,000
Issuances:
Employee Stock-Based Compensation Plans		—		(1,079,008	)		—		(1,113,411	)		—		(856,390	)
Directors’ Plan		—		(5,924	)		—		(4,800	)		—		(4,548	)
Ending Balance, December 31		254,752,788		78,396,988			254,752,788		76,006,920			254,752,788		65,634,580

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

	Entergy						Entergy Gulf States Louisiana						Entergy Louisiana
	December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010			December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010			December 31, 2011			December 31, 2010
	(In Thousands)
Cash flow hedges net unrealized gain	$	177,497		$	106,258		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Pension and other postretirement liabilities		(499,556	)		(276,466	)		(69,610	)		(40,304	)		(39,507	)		(24,962	)
Net unrealized investment gains		150,939			129,685			—			—			—			—
Foreign currency translation		2,668			2,311			—			—			—			—
Total	($	168,452	)	($	38,212	)	($	69,610	)	($	40,304	)	($	39,507	)	($	24,962	)