Rate And Regulatory Matters (Correction Of Regulatory Asset For Income Taxes, Statement Of Changes In Equity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Previously Reported [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Previously Reported [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Corrected [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Corrected [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] As Corrected [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy New Orleans	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy New Orleans	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy New Orleans	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy New Orleans	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Entergy Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Entergy Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 System Energy [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 System Energy [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 System Energy [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 System Energy [Member]
Beginning Balance			$ 9,055,270	$ 8,590,400				$ 1,444,124	$ 1,403,906			$ 1,333,776	$ 1,464,289	$ 1,393,386	$ 1,494,593	$ 1,509,213	$ 1,539,517	$ 1,439,733	$ 1,464,289	$ 1,494,593	$ 1,393,386			$ 2,564,929	$ 2,136,871	$ 2,504,436	$ 2,061,833			$ 835,706	$ 733,105			$ 181,165	$ 188,154			$ 899,355	$ 824,290			$ 800,563	$ 812,366
Net income	342,670	633,069	566,513	1,207,346	51,946	82,551	80,945	142,180	156,851	50,210	53,170	128,958	150,197	128,958	150,197	146,928	146,928		150,197	150,197		80,208	337,722	244,217	453,125	244,217	453,125	27,080	33,169	51,676	74,312	10,555	18,943	17,781	36,077	19,234	40,875	37,182	79,698	30,616	14,263	92,520	55,585
Ending Balance	$ 9,284,522	$ 9,059,362	$ 9,284,522	$ 9,059,362		$ 1,581,149	$ 1,438,502	$ 1,581,149	$ 1,438,502	$ 1,407,998	$ 1,333,613	$ 1,407,998	$ 1,333,613	$ 1,455,211	$ 1,362,202	$ 1,375,268	$ 1,403,857	$ 1,439,733	$ 1,333,613	$ 1,362,202	$ 1,393,386	$ 2,805,223	$ 2,888,880	$ 2,805,223	$ 2,888,880	$ 2,742,840	$ 2,812,375	$ 885,261	$ 801,996	$ 885,261	$ 801,996	$ 196,522	$ 195,707	$ 196,522	$ 195,707	$ 879,117	$ 898,208	$ 879,117	$ 898,208	$ 860,333	$ 805,951	$ 860,333	$ 805,951