Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Amounts Recorded On The Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current liabilities	$ (95,900)	$ (44,031)
Non-current liabilities	(3,725,886)	(3,133,657)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(614,805)	(539,016)
Total funded status		(4,153)
Regulatory Asset		2,385
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(7,803)	(7,911)
Non-current liabilities	(416,220)	(332,672)
Total funded status		(2,781)
Regulatory Asset		445
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(9,170)	(9,161)
Non-current liabilities	(539,703)	(459,685)
Total funded status		(118)
Regulatory Asset		(36)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(160,866)	(144,088)
Total funded status		(1,682)
Regulatory Asset		703
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(83,790)	(74,017)
Total funded status		(376)
Regulatory Asset		78
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(853)	(1,029)
Non-current liabilities	(155,241)	(137,735)
Total funded status		(10,103)
Regulatory Asset		(292)
System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(142,617)	(139,719)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Current liabilities	(62,100)	(11,200)
Non-current liabilities	(137,200)	(153,200)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	32,500	27,200
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Current liabilities	(209)
Non-current liabilities	(4,114)
Total funded status	(4,323)
Regulatory Asset	2,359
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(257)
Non-current liabilities	(2,652)
Total funded status	(2,909)
Regulatory Asset	679
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	102	104
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(17)
Non-current liabilities	(99)
Total funded status	(116)
Regulatory Asset	(29)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current liabilities	(118)
Non-current liabilities	(1,723)
Total funded status	(1,841)
Regulatory Asset	800
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current liabilities	(25)
Non-current liabilities	(432)
Total funded status	(457)
Regulatory Asset	88
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(853)
Non-current liabilities	(8,879)
Total funded status	(9,732)
Regulatory Asset	$ (465)