Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Amounts Recorded On The Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current liabilities	$ (67,419)	$ (95,900)
Non-current liabilities	(2,320,704)	(3,725,886)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(319,211)	(614,805)
Total funded status		(4,323)
Regulatory Asset		2,359
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(9,065)	(7,803)
Non-current liabilities	(274,315)	(416,220)
Total funded status		(2,909)
Regulatory Asset		679
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(10,255)	(9,170)
Non-current liabilities	(358,017)	(539,703)
Total funded status		(116)
Regulatory Asset		(29)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(66,722)	(160,866)
Total funded status		(1,841)
Regulatory Asset		800
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(32,497)	(83,790)
Total funded status		(457)
Regulatory Asset		88
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(786)	(853)
Non-current liabilities	(51,253)	(155,241)
Total funded status		(9,732)
Regulatory Asset		(465)
System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(79,411)	(142,617)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Current liabilities	(26,800)	(62,100)
Non-current liabilities	(127,500)	(137,200)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	26,100	32,500
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Current liabilities	(367)	(209)
Non-current liabilities	(3,795)	(4,114)
Total funded status	(4,162)
Regulatory Asset	1,979
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(262)	(257)
Non-current liabilities	(2,249)	(2,652)
Total funded status	(2,511)
Regulatory Asset	422
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	57	102
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(6)	(17)
Non-current liabilities	(44)	(99)
Total funded status	(50)
Regulatory Asset	(87)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current liabilities	(118)	(118)
Non-current liabilities	(1,634)	(1,723)
Total funded status	(1,752)
Regulatory Asset	637
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current liabilities	(20)	(25)
Non-current liabilities	(414)	(432)
Total funded status	(434)
Regulatory Asset	(18)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(786)	(853)
Non-current liabilities	(7,124)	(8,879)
Total funded status	(7,910)
Regulatory Asset	(1,631)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$ 0	$ 0