Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	$ 10,556
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	315
Amortization of loss	(68,130)
Settlement loss	(11,612)
Total	(68,871)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,866)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	(1,304)
Amortization of loss	(43,971)
Settlement loss	0
Total	(47,141)
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	12,925
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	1,797
Amortization of loss	(21,590)
Settlement loss	0
Total	(6,868)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(503)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	(178)
Amortization of loss	(2,569)
Settlement loss	(11,612)
Total	(14,862)
Entergy Gulf States [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	941
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	91
Amortization of loss	(7,644)
Total	(6,612)
Entergy Gulf States [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0
Amortization of loss	(3,039)
Total	(3,040)
Entergy Gulf States [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	942
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	91
Amortization of loss	(4,598)
Total	(3,565)
Entergy Gulf States [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0
Amortization of loss	(7)
Total	(7)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	508
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	41
Amortization of loss	(5,050)
Total	(4,501)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0
Amortization of loss	0
Total	0
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	508
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	41
Amortization of loss	(5,050)
Total	(4,501)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0
Amortization of loss	0
Total	$ 0