Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Revenues	$ 2,436,260	$ 2,963,560	$ 2,518,600	$ 2,383,659	$ 2,489,033	$ 3,395,553	$ 2,803,279	$ 2,541,208	$ 10,302,079	$ 11,229,073	$ 11,487,577
Operating Income	324,202	690,852	342,984	(56,857)	342,696	600,909	558,738	510,891	1,301,181	2,013,234	2,267,377
Consolidated Net Income	301,850	342,670	370,583	(146,740)	160,027	633,069	320,598	253,678	868,363	1,367,372	1,270,305
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation	296,267	337,088	365,001	(151,683)	154,139	628,054	315,583	248,663	846,673	1,346,439	1,250,242
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 1.67	$ 1.90	$ 2.06	$ (0.86)	$ 0.88	$ 3.55	$ 1.77	$ 1.39	$ 4.77	$ 7.59	$ 6.72
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 1.67	$ 1.89	$ 2.06	$ (0.86)	$ 0.88	$ 3.53	$ 1.76	$ 1.38	$ 4.76	$ 7.55	$ 6.66
Parent Company [Member]
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									846,700	1,346,400	1,250,200
Earnings Per Share, Basic									$ 4.77	$ 7.59	$ 6.72
Earnings Per Share, Diluted									$ 4.76	$ 7.55	$ 6.66
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Operating Revenues	493,603	656,201	502,022	475,178	465,623	658,356	516,833	443,498
Operating Income	26,833	152,836	87,899	39,816	33,555	164,822	99,072	60,905	307,384	358,354	326,016
Consolidated Net Income	10,185	82,551	45,755	13,874	8,040	80,945	50,298	25,608	152,365	164,891	172,618
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									145,492	158,018	165,745
Earnings Applicable to Common Equity	8,466	80,833	44,037	12,156	6,321	79,227	48,580	23,890
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Operating Revenues	419,465	434,451	401,356	399,622	519,001	596,948	522,562	495,898	1,654,894	2,134,409	2,097,021
Operating Income	52,138	85,561	56,037	55,226	57,506	100,276	89,860	83,069	248,962	330,711	324,607
Consolidated Net Income	30,020	50,210	50,389	28,358	51,410	53,170	50,405	46,619	158,977	201,604	174,319
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									158,152	200,779	173,492
Earnings Applicable to Common Equity	29,813	50,004	50,183	28,152	51,203	52,964	50,199	46,413
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Operating Revenues	491,254	614,044	561,787	482,358	554,820	786,814	651,847	515,434
Operating Income	32,397	121,725	(41,253)	36,142	3,606	(61,706)	96,648	47,561	149,011	86,109	296,674
Consolidated Net Income	36,864	80,208	130,714	33,295	20,800	337,722	75,103	40,298	281,081	473,923	231,435
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									274,131	466,973	224,485
Earnings Applicable to Common Equity	35,128	78,470	128,976	31,557	19,064	335,984	73,365	38,560
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Operating Revenues	259,631	321,771	277,204	261,760	309,724	365,569	302,194	288,983
Operating Income	30,621	59,331	42,225	28,338	32,888	60,885	50,280	37,286	160,515	181,389	181,276
Consolidated Net Income	(4,908)	27,080	15,914	8,682	34,417	33,169	23,829	17,314	46,768	108,729	85,377
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									43,940	105,901	82,549
Earnings Applicable to Common Equity	(5,615)	26,373	15,207	7,975	33,710	32,462	23,122	16,607
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Operating Revenues	149,775	161,565	129,244	129,156	139,399	182,032	150,498	158,256	569,740	630,185	659,449
Operating Income	3,066	19,565	10,009	3,250	(6,118)	36,603	15,710	16,933	35,890	63,128	61,832
Consolidated Net Income	(716)	10,555	7,186	40	(101)	18,943	8,207	8,927	17,065	35,976	31,114
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation									16,100	35,011	30,149
Earnings Applicable to Common Equity	(958)	10,314	6,945	(201)	(343)	18,702	7,966	8,686
Entergy Texas [Member]
Operating Revenues	407,427	489,078	358,067	326,924	406,937	556,955	444,423	348,884
Operating Income	34,533	61,234	48,983	25,063	24,935	86,810	57,682	45,593	169,813	215,020	190,574
Consolidated Net Income	4,788	19,234	16,204	1,745	1,147	40,875	23,097	15,726	41,971	80,845	66,200
System Energy [Member]
Operating Revenues	193,705	188,680	113,699	126,034	153,465	152,431	129,120	128,395
Operating Income	58,776	58,934	38,245	35,456	41,699	38,520	33,996	36,387	191,411	150,602	165,147
Consolidated Net Income	$ 19,346	$ 30,616	$ 35,368	$ 26,536	$ 8,612	$ 14,263	$ 21,986	$ 19,336	$ 111,866	$ 64,197	$ 82,624