Long - Term Debt (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	$ 1,070,556	$ 931,131
Entergy Texas [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	749,673	807,066
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	329,500
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane [Member] | Tranche A-1 (5.51%) due October 2013 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	93,500
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane [Member] | Tranche A-2 (5.79%) due October 2018 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	121,600
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane [Member] | Tranche A-3 (5.93%) due June 2022 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	114,400
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	545,900
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike [Member] | Tranche A-1 (2.12%) due February 2016 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	182,500
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike [Member] | Tranche A-2 (3.65%) due August 2019 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	144,800
Entergy Texas [Member] | Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike [Member] | Tranche A-3 (4.38%) due November 2023 [Member]
Senior Secured Transition Bonds, Series A:
Securitization bonds	$ 218,600