Leases (Components Of Minimum Lease Payments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
2013, Operating Leases	$ 94,422
2014, Operating Leases	97,001
2015, Operating Leases	80,172
2016, Operating Leases	55,083
2017, Operating Leases	38,771
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	139,560
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	505,009
Present value of net minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	505,009
2013, Capital Leases	6,494
2014, Capital Leases	4,694
2015, Capital Leases	4,615
2016, Capital Leases	4,457
2017, Capital Leases	4,457
Years thereafter, Capital Leases	34,223
Minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	58,940
Less: Amount representing interest, Capital Leases	13,357
Present value of net minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	45,583
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	27,967
2014, Operating Leases	26,703
2015, Operating Leases	27,808
2016, Operating Leases	13,074
2017, Operating Leases	7,225
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	4,132
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	106,909
2013, Capital Leases	237
2014, Capital Leases	237
2015, Capital Leases	158
Minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	632
Less: Amount representing interest, Capital Leases	367
Present value of net minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	265
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	12,211
2014, Operating Leases	19,311
2015, Operating Leases	10,032
2016, Operating Leases	9,457
2017, Operating Leases	8,477
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	44,264
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	103,752
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	10,776
2014, Operating Leases	9,820
2015, Operating Leases	8,565
2016, Operating Leases	4,967
2017, Operating Leases	3,062
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	4,097
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	41,287
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	6,907
2014, Operating Leases	6,515
2015, Operating Leases	5,503
2016, Operating Leases	3,797
2017, Operating Leases	2,529
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	5,570
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	30,821
2013, Capital Leases	3,370
2014, Capital Leases	1,570
2015, Capital Leases	1,570
2016, Capital Leases	1,570
2017, Capital Leases	1,570
Years thereafter, Capital Leases	785
Minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	10,435
Less: Amount representing interest, Capital Leases	2,944
Present value of net minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	7,491
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	2,068
2014, Operating Leases	1,898
2015, Operating Leases	1,840
2016, Operating Leases	1,467
2017, Operating Leases	1,045
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	2,192
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	10,510
Entergy Texas [Member]
2013, Operating Leases	6,537
2014, Operating Leases	5,491
2015, Operating Leases	3,623
2016, Operating Leases	2,475
2017, Operating Leases	1,443
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	1,866
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	21,435
System Energy [Member]
2013, Capital Leases	50,546
2014, Capital Leases	51,637
2015, Capital Leases	52,253
Minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	154,436
Less: Amount representing interest, Capital Leases	15,543
Present value of net minimum lease payments, Capital Leases	$ 138,893