Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$ (293,083)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(303,658)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	(10,575)	202,119
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(65,229)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(64,274)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	955	1,028
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	955
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(64,274)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	955
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(46,132)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(45,454)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	678	653
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	678
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(45,454)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	678
Parent Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(20,961)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	10,386
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(303,658)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	(10,575)
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(772)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	2,405
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	(772)
Parent Company [Member] | Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	57,372
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(995)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	270,924
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	56,377
Parent Company [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	9,795
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(580,917)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	9,795
Parent Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(77,561)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	1,586
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,930
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	$ (75,975)