Equity (Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	$ 621,046,000	$ 619,643,000	$ 1,754,436,000	$ 1,732,624,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(10,214,000)	(10,768,000)	(36,992,000)	(41,794,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	24,553,000	232,503,000	214,202,000	110,140,000
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	23,430,000	24,490,000	102,277,000	94,767,000
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	35,325,000		37,518,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(389,000)		(1,193,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(13,111,000)		(13,653,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	627,000		(1,152,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	(1,280,000)		2,351,000
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	2,414,000		7,175,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(17,179,000)		(53,268,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	10,301,000		22,055,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements	(9,662,000)		(9,662,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments	(1,304,000)		(1,304,000)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,822,000)	(1,615,000)	(7,861,000)	(6,727,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	11,611,000	29,184,000	44,773,000	41,220,000
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	9,428,000	13,442,000	34,239,000	33,350,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)			617,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)			(5,839,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)			2,342,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	206,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,947,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	778,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(618,000)	519,000	(2,271,000)	(1,680,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	39,143,000	42,628,000	72,061,000	(127,977,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	21,149,000	21,566,000	64,064,000	63,178,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)			186,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)			(3,862,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)			1,631,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	62,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,288,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 542,000