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Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2012
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
item
Dec. 31, 2011
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Jan. 01, 1993
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Contribution Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Contribution Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Contribution Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Texas [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Texas [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Texas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Texas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Texas [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
System Energy [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
System Energy [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
System Energy [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
System Energy [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2010
System Energy [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Jan. 01, 1993
Entergy Gulf States [Member]
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Pre-65 Retirees [Member]
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Pre-65 Retirees [Member]
Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Post-65 Retirees [Member]
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Post-65 Retirees [Member]
Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum [Member]
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Domestic Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Domestic Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Non-Taxables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Domestic Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Taxable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
International Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
International Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Non-Taxables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
International Equity Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Taxable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Non-Taxables [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Qualified Pension And Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Taxable [Member]
Change in Plan Assets                                                                                                                                                                      
Number of qualified pension plans       7                                                                                                                                                              
Mandatory employee contribution under Retirement Plan III       3.00%                                                                                                                                                              
Mandatory contribution plan participation period 10 years                                                                                                                                                                    
Voluntary employee contributions under Retirement Plan III                                                                                                                                                 1.00% 10.00%                  
Accumulated pension benefit obligation       $ 5,400,000,000 $ 4,600,000,000     $ 241,400,000 $ 180,600,000 $ 146,500,000             $ 1,161,448,000 $ 1,013,605,000   $ 3,856,000 $ 3,755,000       $ 559,190,000 $ 459,037,000   $ 2,899,000 $ 2,768,000       $ 735,376,000 $ 632,759,000   $ 116,000 $ 118,000       $ 336,099,000 $ 296,259,000   $ 1,590,000 $ 1,460,000       $ 157,233,000 $ 136,390,000   $ 427,000 $ 345,000       $ 350,351,000 $ 308,628,000   $ 9,127,000 $ 10,030,000       $ 251,378,000 $ 227,617,000   $ 128,000,000                              
Period of amortization of accumulated postretirement benefit obligations             20 years                                                                                                                                                        
Period of amortization of regulatory asset             15 years                                                                                                                                                        
Net periodic benefit costs       264,281,000 154,004,000 147,113,000     26,500,000 24,000,000 27,200,000           53,064,000 33,743,000 31,705,000 464,000 498,000 501,000     19,774,000 9,400,000 10,011,000 158,000 167,000 162,000     37,445,000 23,583,000 14,614,000 12,000 14,000 102,000     12,306,000 7,662,000 7,308,000 183,000 190,000 206,000     8,457,000 5,538,000 3,588,000 79,000 65,000 26,000     10,376,000 4,398,000 3,032,000 648,000 763,000 683,000     11,485,000 6,861,000 1,890,000                                
Settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan                 6,300,000 4,600,000 9,300,000                                                                                                                                                
Projected benefit obligation                 199,300,000 164,400,000                   4,323,000 4,153,000             2,909,000 2,781,000             116,000 118,000             1,841,000 1,682,000             457,000 376,000             9,732,000 10,103,000                                            
non-current pension liability 3,725,886,000 3,133,657,000             137,200,000 153,200,000         614,805,000 539,016,000       4,114,000     416,220,000 332,672,000       2,652,000     539,703,000 459,685,000       99,000     160,866,000 144,088,000       1,723,000     83,790,000 74,017,000       432,000     155,241,000 137,735,000       8,879,000     142,617,000 139,719,000                                      
Current pension liability 95,900,000 44,031,000             62,100,000 11,200,000                   209,000     7,803,000 7,911,000       257,000     9,170,000 9,161,000       17,000               118,000               25,000     853,000 1,029,000       853,000                                              
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset                 81,200,000 58,900,000                                                                                                                                                  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)                 32,500,000 27,200,000                                   102,000 104,000                                                                                                            
Settlement charges                                       38,000 41,000 86,000                               80,000                                               5,000                                          
Target asset allocation                                                                                                                                                     45.00% 39.00% 39.00% 20.00% 26.00% 26.00% 35.00% 35.00% 35.00%
Expected contributions in 2013       163,300,000     82,500,000                                                                                                                                                        
Assumed health care cost trend rate for 2013                                                                                                                                         7.75% 7.50% 7.50% 7.25%                      
Ultimate healthcare cost trend rate                                                                                                                                         4.75% 4.75% 4.75% 4.75%                      
Reduction in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation from actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies 316,600,000 274,000,000                                                                                                                                                                  
Reduction in other postretirement benefit cost from actuarially estimated effect of future Medicare subsidies 31,200,000 33,000,000 26,600,000                                                                                                                                                                
Medicare subsidies for prescription drug claims received 6,000,000                                                                                                                                                                    
Employer's contribution to defined contribution plan as percentage of eligible earnings per pay period                       6.00%                                                                                                                                              
Employers contribution to defined contribution plan as percentage of employees contribution                       70.00%                                                                                                                                              
Subsidiaries' contribution to defined conttribution plan                       $ 43,700,000 $ 42,600,000 $ 41,800,000