Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	$ 566,513	$ 1,207,346
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	1,293,667	1,315,730
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	111,228	(5,979)
Asset impairment	355,524	0
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(162,015)	(213,524)
Fuel inventory	(9,063)	12,677
Accounts payable	143,596	(238,879)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	44,625	245,242
Interest accrued	(24,752)	(53,307)
Deferred fuel	(40,192)	(119,481)
Other working capital accounts	(131,374)	(31,319)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(17,479)	(4,608)
Changes in other regulatory assets	49,250	250,747
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(75,104)	(275,690)
Other	115,364	40,801
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	2,219,788	2,129,756
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(1,868,690)	(1,460,668)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	73,497	61,096
Nuclear fuel purchases	(412,912)	(475,418)
Payment for purchase of plant	(645)	(299,590)
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0	6,531
Change in money pool receivable - net	(2,036)	(443)
NYPA value sharing payment	(72,000)	(72,000)
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(7,009)	(5,043)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	17,884	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	(69,995)	(60,693)
Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs	109,105	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	1,416,697	1,053,089
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(1,507,123)	(1,142,364)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(2,323,227)	(2,395,503)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	2,289,494	1,535,634
Preferred stock	51,000	0
Common stock and treasury stock	56,602	32,889
Retirement of long-term debt	(2,029,016)	(947,401)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(234,632)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	247,845	30,036
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(441,292)	(443,290)
Preferred stock	(15,497)	(15,046)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	159,136	(41,810)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(416)	225
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	55,281	(307,332)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	694,438	1,294,472
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	749,719	987,140
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	422,142	413,525
Income taxes	42,472	(11)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	142,180	156,851
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	266,755	255,051
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	97,641	(17,536)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(86,046)	(69,699)
Fuel inventory	3,130	(8,904)
Accounts payable	(144,562)	134,019
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(9,302)	126,029
Interest accrued	(11,061)	(5,716)
Deferred fuel	88,097	8,112
Other working capital accounts	32,465	(129,416)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	171	(2,491)
Changes in other regulatory assets	51,089	23,478
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(40,976)	(110,423)
Other	(51,661)	(24,593)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	337,920	334,762
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(273,010)	(271,443)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	9,002	6,451
Nuclear fuel purchases	(134,928)	(127,978)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	76,042
Remittances to transition charge account	(11,987)	(11,866)
Payments from transition charge account	7,476	6,336
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	103,394	82,655
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(110,520)	(95,723)
Change in money pool receivable - net	9,875	41,463
Investment in affiliates	0	10,994
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(324,656)	(359,111)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	54,804
Retirement of long-term debt	(5,990)	(39,145)
Change in money pool payable - net	0	32,102
Changes in credit borrowings - net	18,776	(4,477)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(117,100)
Preferred stock	(5,155)	(5,155)
Other	(872)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	6,759	(78,971)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	20,023	(103,320)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,599	106,102
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,622	2,782
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	68,990	64,670
Income taxes	(6,897)	0
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	128,958	150,197
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	158,577	154,739
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	51,415	(24,492)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	63,699	(153,380)
Fuel inventory	(7,747)	9,427
Accounts payable	42,149	(64,105)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	67,987	148,158
Interest accrued	5,696	5,877
Deferred fuel	(91,354)	(1,596)
Other working capital accounts	(11,434)	75,582
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(3,100)	1,670
Changes in other regulatory assets	(5,648)	21,858
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(3,459)	(16,605)
Other	(4,028)	7,127
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	391,711	314,457
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(198,785)	(156,944)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	6,512	6,176
Nuclear fuel purchases	(41,592)	(73,853)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	56,579	9,647
Change in money pool receivable - net	(8,565)	49,723
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	3,364	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	96,653	56,543
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(111,084)	(70,623)
Proceeds from sale of investment	51,000	0
Other	(66)	(100)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(145,984)	(179,431)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	74,251	0
Retirement of long-term debt	(70,840)	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(29,400)	18,500
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(67,400)	(281,950)
Preferred stock	(619)	(619)
Other	0	(266)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(94,008)	(264,335)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	151,719	(129,309)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	24,845	155,173
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	176,564	25,864
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	54,291	55,073
Income taxes	0	(7)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	244,217	453,125
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	299,745	212,963
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(94,765)	(273,339)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(37,610)	(110,234)
Fuel inventory	(3)	(25,623)
Accounts payable	65,772	(72)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	6,383	17,526
Interest accrued	(1,557)	1,342
Deferred fuel	(30,132)	(41,969)
Other working capital accounts	(29,490)	(13,528)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(17,392)	(7,802)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(42,781)	84,811
Other regulatory liabilities	139,624	193,034
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(17,361)	(42,095)
Other	(82,978)	(199,966)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	401,672	248,173
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(429,820)	(314,799)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	27,032	23,929
Nuclear fuel purchases	(134,413)	(135,404)
Payment for purchase of plant		(299,589)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	48,990	11,570
Change in money pool receivable - net	(30,710)	22,780
Remittances to transition charge account	(22,113)	0
Payments from transition charge account	15,472	0
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	13,669	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	19,833	11,491
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(28,422)	(19,279)
Other	666	(222)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(519,816)	(699,523)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	465,997	420,076
Retirement of long-term debt	(37,649)	(35,547)
Change in money pool payable - net	(118,415)	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(37,949)	33,477
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(600)	(31,200)
Preferred stock	(5,213)	(5,213)
Other	0	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	266,171	381,593
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	148,027	(69,757)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	878	123,254
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	148,905	53,497
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	98,979	80,354
Income taxes	(3,601)	(77)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	51,676	74,312
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	72,451	69,630
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	39,703	34,947
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	23,552	(19,554)
Fuel inventory	(3,377)	(43,219)
Accounts payable	12,637	(2,248)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(15,150)	(1,665)
Interest accrued	(3,683)	774
Deferred fuel	(12,249)	(30,750)
Other working capital accounts	(10,977)	4,518
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(2,496)	(693)
Changes in other regulatory assets	10,526	(2,311)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(10,438)	(26,110)
Other	3,845	(14,483)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	156,020	43,148
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(121,634)	(121,813)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	2,950	6,246
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0	868
Change in money pool receivable - net	(5,497)	0
Investment in affiliates	0	5,527
Other	16	26
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(124,165)	(109,146)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	268,820
Retirement of long-term debt	0	(180,000)
Change in money pool payable - net	(1,999)	(17,638)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(3,300)
Preferred stock	(2,121)	(2,121)
Other	(94)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(4,214)	65,761
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	27,641	(237)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16	1,216
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	27,657	979
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	44,481	35,861
Income taxes	2,118	0
Entergy New Orleans
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	17,781	36,077
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	27,446	26,371
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	12,269	(9,129)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(17,721)	4,073
Fuel inventory	1,977	(1,171)
Accounts payable	11,175	(8,504)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(10,826)	28,076
Interest accrued	(740)	(773)
Deferred fuel	(6,095)	(769)
Other working capital accounts	(6,628)	(1,489)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	6,015	6,571
Changes in other regulatory assets	(10,748)	(6,769)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(6,597)	(11,200)
Other	5,852	(412)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	23,160	60,952
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(47,325)	(41,607)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	487	369
Change in money pool receivable - net	9,074	(290)
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(6,774)	(4,747)
Investment in affiliates	0	3,256
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(44,538)	(43,019)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Change in money pool payable - net	15,719	0
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(1,700)	(27,800)
Preferred stock	(724)	(724)
Other	(579)	(1,030)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	12,716	(29,554)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(8,662)	(11,621)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,834	54,986
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,172	43,365
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	8,431	8,343
Entergy Texas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	37,182	79,698
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	64,887	59,059
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	28,140	51,650
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(15,544)	(123,024)
Fuel inventory	(2,650)	4,694
Accounts payable	11,930	20,369
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(8,545)	(2,408)
Interest accrued	(9,032)	(8,542)
Deferred fuel	11,543	(51,985)
Other working capital accounts	(10,244)	51,410
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	3,172	(113)
Changes in other regulatory assets	72,559	55,428
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(11,158)	(18,260)
Other	(255)	(12,021)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	171,985	105,955
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(128,199)	(120,992)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	3,355	2,493
Change in money pool receivable - net	50,210	(7,270)
Remittances to transition charge account	(65,325)	(69,607)
Payments from transition charge account	74,441	74,694
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(65,518)	(120,682)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	74,264
Retirement of long-term debt	(49,192)	(47,853)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(57,420)	(5,780)
Other	(728)	0
Net cash flow used in financing activities	(107,340)	20,631
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(873)	5,904
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	65,289	35,342
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	64,416	41,246
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	77,264	74,937
Income taxes	6,000	0
System Energy [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income	92,520	55,585
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	157,070	162,492
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	106,167	(53,032)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(8,224)	(2,916)
Accounts payable	(9,070)	1,449
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(63,879)	94,285
Interest accrued	(1,636)	(35,671)
Other working capital accounts	(30,126)	6,928
Changes in other regulatory assets	(38,909)	53,727
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(9,375)	(23,598)
Other	22,502	(25,445)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	217,040	233,804
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(415,013)	(164,013)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	24,158	15,433
Nuclear fuel purchases	(182,619)	(41,717)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	38,413	12,420
Decrease (increase) in other investments	(72,170)	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	315,006	166,890
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(337,352)	(190,713)
Change in money pool receivable - net	116,321	24,378
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(513,256)	(177,322)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	297,908	0
Retirement of long-term debt	(192,867)	(38,161)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	62,772	(38,264)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(32,750)	(62,000)
Other	(3,766)	(4,139)
Net cash flow used in financing activities	131,297	(142,564)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(164,919)	(86,082)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	185,157	263,772
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,238	177,690
Cash paid / (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	27,667	28,409
Income taxes	$ (3,873)	$ 0