Equity (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Basic earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation, Income	$ (151,683,000)	$ 248,663,000
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, Shares	176,865,363	178,834,342
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, $/share	$ (0.86)	$ 1.39
Average dilutive effect of:
Stock options, Shares	500,000	1,100,000
Stock options $/share		$ (0.01)
Restricted stock, Shares		200,000
Diluted earnings per share, Income	$ (151,700,000)	$ 248,700,000
Diluted earnings per share, Shares	177,388,045	180,083,830
Diluted earnings per share $/share	$ (0.86)	$ 1.38