Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			$ (293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			38,420
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			11,133
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(243,530)		(243,530)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	30,773	(61,196)	49,553	31,659
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			(47)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,130		3,130
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			(47)
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			95,843
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(1,199)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	309,191		309,191
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			94,644
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			35,004
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(555,708)		(555,708)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			35,004
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			(57,376)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(22,672)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(143)		(143)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			(80,048)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(65,229)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(62,349)		(62,349)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	963	862	2,880	12,397
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(63,312)		(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	963		2,880
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(62,349)		(62,349)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	963		2,880
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(46,132)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(44,087)		(44,087)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	684	630	2,045	1,890
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(44,771)		(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	684		2,045
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(44,087)		(44,087)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	684		2,045
Parent Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(274,303)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	36,515
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(5,742)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(243,530)		(243,530)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	30,773
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	2,424
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	706
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,130		3,130
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	706
Parent Company [Member] | Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	262,891
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	45,647
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	653
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	309,191		309,191
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	46,300
Parent Company [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(571,138)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	15,430
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(555,708)		(555,708)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	15,430
Parent Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	31,520
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(9,838)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(21,825)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(143)		(143)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	$ (31,663)