Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined Contribution Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations, Plan assets, Funded status, Amounts Recognized in the Balance sheet for energy Corporation and its subsidiaries

Pension Asset Allocation	Target			Range	2011			2010
Domestic Equity Securities		45	%	34% to 53%		44	%		44	%
International Equity Securities		20	%	16% to 24%		18	%		20	%
Fixed Income Securities		35	%	31% to 41%		37	%		35	%
Other		0	%	0% to 10%		1	%		1	%

Target Asset Allocation

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable										Taxable
	Target			Range	2011			2010			Target			Range	2011			2010
Domestic Equity Securities		38	%	33% to 43%		39	%		39	%		35	%	30% to 40%		35	%		39	%
International Equity Securities		17	%	12% to 22%		15	%		18	%		0	%	0%		0	%		0	%
Fixed Income Securities		45	%	40% to 50%		46	%		43	%		65	%	60% to 70%		64	%		60	%
Other		0	%	0% to 5%		0	%		0	%		0	%	0% to 5%		1	%		1	%

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension		Non-Qualified Pension		Other Postretirement (before Medicare Subsidy)		Estimated Future Medicare Subsidy Receipts
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2012	$	178,030	$	11,199	$	72,685	$	5,678
2013	$	189,881	$	18,159	$	76,731	$	6,374
2014	$	204,573	$	14,942	$	81,001	$	7,137
2015	$	220,295	$	15,502	$	85,780	$	7,935
2016	$	238,242	$	22,492	$	90,143	$	8,828
2017 - 2021	$	1,524,241	$	72,724	$	523,040	$	59,306

Actuarial Assumptions Used in Determining Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligation

	2011	2010
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.10% - 5.20%		5.60	% - 5.70%
Other postretirement	5.10%		5.50	%
Non-qualified pension	4.40%		4.90	%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	4.23%		4.23	%

Actuarial Assumptions Used in Determining Net Periodic and Other Postretirement Benefit Costs

	2011			2010			2009
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension		5.60	% - 5.70%		6.10	% - 6.30%		6.75	%
Other postretirement		5.50	%		6.10	%		6.70	%
Non-qualified pension		4.90	%		5.40	%		6.75	%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels		4.23	%		4.23	%		4.23	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets		8.50	%		8.50	%		8.50	%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets		7.75	%		7.75	%		8.50	%
Other postretirement taxable assets		5.50	%		5.50	%		6.00	%

One percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rate

	1 Percentage Point Increase				1 Percentage Point Decrease
2011	Impact on the APBO		Impact on the sum of service costs and interest cost		Impact on the APBO			Impact on the sum of service costs and interest cost
	Increase /(Decrease) (In Thousands)
Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries	$	218,138	$	23,318	($	183,492	)	($	18,721	)

Qualified Pension [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost, including amounts capitalized

	2011			2010			2009
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	121,961		$	104,956		$	89,646
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation		236,992			231,206			218,172
Expected return on assets		(301,276	)		(259,608	)		(249,220	)
Amortization of prior service cost		3,350			4,658			4,997
Recognized net loss		92,977			65,901			22,401
Net periodic pension costs	$	154,004		$	147,113		$	85,996
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net loss	$	1,045,624		$	232,279		$	76,799
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service cost		(3,350	)		(4,658	)		(4,997	)
Amortization of net loss		(92,977	)		(65,901	)		(22,401	)
Total		949,297			161,720			49,401
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$	1,103,301		$	308,834		$	135,397
Estimated amortization amounts from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic cost in the following year
Prior service cost	$	2,733		$	3,350		$	4,658
Net loss	$	169,064		$	92,977		$	65,901

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,301,218		$	3,837,744
Service cost		121,961			104,956
Interest cost		236,992			231,206
Actuarial loss		703,895			293,189
Employee contributions		828			894
Benefits paid		(177,259	)		(166,771	)
Balance at end of year	$	5,187,635		$	4,301,218
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	3,216,268		$	2,607,274
Actual return on plan assets		(40,453	)		320,517
Employer contributions		400,532			454,354
Employee contributions		828			894
Benefits paid		(177,259	)		(166,771	)
Fair value of assets at end of year	$	3,399,916		$	3,216,268
Funded status	($	1,787,719	)	($	1,084,950	)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	($	1,787,719	)	($	1,084,950	)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service cost	$	9,836		$	12,979
Net loss		2,048,743			1,350,616
	$	2,058,579		$	1,363,595
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	$	2,648		$	2,855
Net loss		551,613			297,093
	$	554,261		$	299,948

Investments held for qualified pension and other postretirement plans measured at fair value

2011	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$	3,738	(b)	$	8,014	(a)	$	—	$	11,752
Common		1,010,491	(b)		—			—		1,010,491
Common collective trusts		—			1,074,178	(c)		—		1,074,178
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities		142,509	(b)		157,737	(a)		—		300,246
Corporate debt instruments:		—			380,558	(a)		—		380,558
Registered investment companies		53,323	(d)		444,275	(e)		—		497,598
Other		—			101,674	(f)		—		101,674
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)		—			34,696	(g)		—		34,696
Total investments	$	1,210,061		$	2,201,132		$	—	$	3,411,193
Cash										75
Other pending transactions										(9,238	)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments										(2,114	)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets									$	3,399,916

2010	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$	—		$	8,354	(a)	$	—	$	8,354
Common		1,375,531	(b)		—			—		1,375,531
Common collective trusts		—			657,075	(c)		—		657,075
Fixed income securities:
Interest-bearing cash		103,731	(d)		—			—		103,731
U.S. Government securities		75,124	(b)		187,957	(a)		—		263,081
Corporate debt instruments:		—			298,760	(a)		—		298,760
Registered investment companies		—			385,020	(e)		—		385,020
Other					108,305	(f)				108,305
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)		—			33,439	(g)		—		33,439
Total investments	$	1,554,386		$	1,678,910		$	—	$	3,233,296
Cash										321
Other pending transactions										(14,954	)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments										(2,395	)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets									$	3,216,268

Other Postretirement Trusts [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost, including amounts capitalized

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2011, 2010, and 2009 other postretirement benefit costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2011			2010			2009
	(In Thousands)
Other post retirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$	59,340		$	52,313		$	46,765
Interest cost on APBO		74,522			76,078			75,265
Expected return on assets		(29,477	)		(26,213	)		(23,484	)
Amortization of transition obligation		3,183			3,728			3,732
Amortization of prior service credit		(14,070	)		(12,060	)		(16,096	)
Recognized net loss		21,192			17,270			18,970
Net other postretirement benefit cost	$	114,690		$	111,116		$	105,152
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and /or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for period	($	29,507	)	($	50,548	)	$	—
Net loss		236,594			82,189			24,983
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and /or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of transition obligation		(3,183	)		(3,728	)		(3,732	)
Amortization of prior service credit		14,070			12,060			16,096
Amortization of net loss		(21,192	)		(17,270	)		(18,970	)
Total	$	196,782		$	22,703		$	18,377
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$	311,472		$	133,819		$	123,529
Estimated amortization amounts from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the following year
Transition obligation	$	3,177		$	3,183		$	3,728
Prior service credit	($	18,163	)	($	14,070	)	($	12,060	)
Net loss	$	43,127		$	21,192		$	17,270

Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	$	1,386,370		$	1,280,076
Service cost		59,340			52,313
Interest cost		74,522			76,078
Plan amendments		(29,507	)		(50,548	)
Plan participant contributions		14,650			14,275
Actuarial (gain)/loss		216,549			92,340
Benefits paid		(77,454	)		(83,613	)
Medicare Part D subsidy received		4,551			5,449
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program proceeds		3,348			—
Balance at end of year	$	1,652,369		$	1,386,370
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	404,430		$	362,399
Actual return on plan assets		9,432			36,364
Employer contributions		76,114			75,005
Plan participant contributions		14,650			14,275
Benefits paid		(77,454	)		(83,613	)
Fair value of assets at end of year	$	427,172		$	404,430
Funded status	($	1,225,197	)	($	981,940	)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($	32,832	)	($	30,225	)
Non-current liabilities		(1,192,365	)		(951,715	)
Total funded status	($	1,225,197	)	($	981,940	)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax)
Transition obligation	$	2,557		$	5,118
Prior service cost/(credit)		(6,628	)		(8,442	)
Net loss		353,905			253,415
	$	349,834		$	250,091
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Transition obligation	$	620		$	1,242
Prior service credit		(66,176	)		(48,925	)
Net loss		313,379			198,466
	$	247,823		$	150,783

Investments held for qualified pension and other postretirement plans measured at fair value

2011	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust	$	—		$	208,812	(c)	$	—	$	208,812
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities		42,577	(b)		57,151	(a)		—		99,728
Corporate debt instruments		—			42,807	(a)		—		42,807
Registered investment companies		4,659	(d)		—			—		4,659
Other		—			69,287	(f)		—		69,287
Total investments	$	47,236		$	378,057		$	—	$	425,293
Other pending transactions										(235	)
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust										2,114
Total fair value of other postretirement assets									$	427,172

2010	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3		Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust	$	—		$	211,835	(c)	$	—	$	211,835
Fixed income securities:
Interest-bearing cash		4,014	(d)		—			—		4,014
U.S. Government securities		37,823	(b)		52,326	(a)		—		90,149
Corporate debt instruments		—			37,128	(a)		—		37,128
Other		—			58,716	(f)		—		58,716
Total investments	$	41,837		$	360,005		$	—	$	401,842
Other pending transactions										193
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust										2,395
Total fair value of other postretirement assets									$	404,430

(a) Certain preferred stocks and fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b) Common stocks, treasury notes and bonds, and certain preferred stocks and fixed income debt securities are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c) The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives. The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index. Net asset value per share of the common collective trusts estimate fair value.

(d) The registered investment company is a money market mutual fund with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share.

(e) The registered investment company holds investments in domestic and international bond markets and estimates fair value using net asset value per share.

(f) The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes

(g) The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value. The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.