Income Taxes (Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Gross balance January 1	$ 4,387,780	$ 4,949,788	$ 4,050,491
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	163,612	211,966	480,843
Additions for tax positions of prior years	1,517,797	332,744	871,682
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(476,873)	(259,895)	(438,460)
Settlements	(1,421,913)	(841,528)	(10,462)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(5,295)	(4,306)
Gross balance at December 31	4,170,403	4,387,780	4,949,788
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(4,022,535)	(3,212,397)	(3,771,301)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(363,266)	(373,000)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	147,868	812,117	805,487
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Gross balance January 1	335,493	240,239	293,920
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	10,409	11,216	38,205
Additions for tax positions of prior years	429,232	44,202	1,838
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(39,534)	(3,255)	(92,699)
Settlements	(390,931)	43,091	(1,025)
Gross balance at December 31	344,669	335,493	240,239
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(342,127)	(146,429)	(123,968)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(75,977)	(75,977)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	2,542	113,087	40,294
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Gross balance January 1	390,493	353,886	311,311
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	8,974	9,398	87,755
Additions for tax positions of prior years	392,548	50,944	25,960
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(50,518)	(21,719)	(71,033)
Settlements	(275,776)	(2,016)	(107)
Gross balance at December 31	465,721	390,493	353,886
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(160,955)	(26,394)	(29,257)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(45,493)	(45,493)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	304,766	318,606	279,136
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Gross balance January 1	446,187	505,188	352,577
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	67,721	8,748	183,188
Additions for tax positions of prior years	331,432	21,052	34,236
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(169,465)	(27,991)	(64,868)
Settlements	(139,202)	(60,810)	55
Gross balance at December 31	536,673	446,187	505,188
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(536,673)	(216,720)	(131,805)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		0
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		229,467	373,383
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Gross balance January 1	11,052	24,163	17,137
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	8,401	457	4,679
Additions for tax positions of prior years	4,057	21,902	6,857
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(5,703)	(5,022)	(4,469)
Settlements	(966)	(30,448)	(41)
Gross balance at December 31	16,841	11,052	24,163
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(16,841)	(5,930)	(6,477)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(7,556)	(7,556)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		(2,434)	10,130
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Gross balance January 1	56,052	18,176	(53,295)
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	497	50,212	173
Additions for tax positions of prior years	445	7,343	72,169
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(2,506)	(12,289)	(863)
Settlements	(2,470)	(7,390)	(8)
Gross balance at December 31	52,018	56,052	18,176
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(35,511)	(1,211)	(3,751)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(1,174)	(1,174)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	16,507	53,667	13,251
Entergy Texas [Member]
Gross balance January 1	19,225	14,229	32,299
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	1,656	1,760	5,169
Additions for tax positions of prior years	4,834	7,533	5,868
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(11,649)	(3,432)	(29,100)
Settlements	(112)	(865)	(7)
Gross balance at December 31	13,954	19,225	14,229
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(1,593)	(10,645)	(6,269)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(1,376)	(1,376)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	12,361	7,204	6,584
System Energy [Member]
Gross balance January 1	281,183	224,518	211,247
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	8,715	44,419	16,829
Additions for tax positions of prior years	271,172	14,200	10,402
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(20,934)	(4,942)	(13,116)
Settlements	(279,790)	2,988	(844)
Gross balance at December 31	260,346	281,183	224,518
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(249,424)	(10,752)	(10,487)
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Cash paid to taxing authorities		(41,878)	(41,878)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	$ 10,922	$ 228,553	$ 172,153