Rate And Regulatory Matters (Correction Of Regulatory Asset For Income Taxes, Statement Of Changes In Equity) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, 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
Beginning Balance				$ 9,055,270				$ 8,590,400	$ 9,055,270	$ 8,590,400	$ 8,707,360
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
Ending Balance	9,291,089				9,055,270				9,291,089	9,055,270	8,590,400
As Previously Reported [Member]
Net income										203,027	190,738
As Previously Reported [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Ending Balance					1,439,733					1,439,733
As Corrected [Member]
Net income										201,604	174,319
As Corrected [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Ending Balance					1,393,386					1,393,386
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Beginning Balance				1,444,124				1,403,906	1,444,124	1,403,906	1,411,561
Net income	10,185	82,551	45,755	13,874	8,040	80,945	50,298	25,608	152,365	164,891	172,618
Ending Balance	1,579,616				1,444,124				1,579,616	1,444,124	1,403,906
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Beginning Balance				1,333,776				1,464,289	1,333,776	1,464,289	1,413,254
Net income	30,020	50,210	50,389	28,358	51,410	53,170	50,405	46,619	158,977	201,604	174,319
Ending Balance	1,383,004				1,333,776				1,383,004	1,333,776	1,464,289
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Beginning Balance				1,393,386				1,494,593	1,393,386	1,494,593	1,445,425
Net income									158,977	201,604	174,319
Ending Balance	1,438,233				1,393,386				1,438,233	1,393,386	1,494,593
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Previously Reported [Member]
Beginning Balance								1,509,213		1,509,213	1,441,759
Net income										203,027	190,738
Ending Balance					1,380,123					1,380,123	1,509,213
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Previously Reported [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Beginning Balance								1,539,517		1,539,517	1,473,930
Net income										203,027	190,738
Ending Balance					1,439,733					1,439,733	1,539,517
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Corrected [Member]
Beginning Balance								1,464,289		1,464,289	1,413,254
Net income										201,604	174,319
Ending Balance					1,333,776					1,333,776	1,464,289
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Corrected [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Beginning Balance								1,494,593		1,494,593	1,445,425
Net income										201,604	174,319
Ending Balance					1,393,386					1,393,386	1,494,593
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Beginning Balance				2,564,929				2,136,871	2,564,929	2,136,871	1,911,809
Net income	36,864	80,208	130,714	33,295	20,800	337,722	75,103	40,298	281,081	473,923	231,435
Ending Balance	3,070,496				2,564,929				3,070,496	2,564,929	2,136,871
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Member's Equity [Member]
Beginning Balance				2,504,436				2,061,833	2,504,436	2,061,833	1,837,348
Net income									281,081	473,923	231,435
Ending Balance	3,016,628				2,504,436				3,016,628	2,504,436	2,061,833
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Beginning Balance				835,706				733,105	835,706	733,105	693,956
Net income	(4,908)	27,080	15,914	8,682	34,417	33,169	23,829	17,314	46,768	108,729	85,377
Ending Balance	879,646				835,706				879,646	835,706	733,105
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Beginning Balance				181,165				188,154	181,165	188,154	205,005
Net income	(716)	10,555	7,186	40	(101)	18,943	8,207	8,927	17,065	35,976	31,114
Ending Balance	195,565				181,165				195,565	181,165	188,154
Entergy Texas [Member]
Beginning Balance				899,355				824,290	899,355	824,290	844,490
Net income	4,788	19,234	16,204	1,745	1,147	40,875	23,097	15,726	41,971	80,845	66,200
Ending Balance	854,146				899,355				854,146	899,355	824,290
System Energy [Member]
Beginning Balance				800,563				812,366	800,563	812,366	829,942
Net income	19,346	30,616	35,368	26,536	8,612	14,263	21,986	19,336	111,866	64,197	82,624
Ending Balance	$ 832,729				$ 800,563				$ 832,729	$ 800,563	$ 812,366