Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenues	$ 2,691,906	$ 3,351,959	$ 2,738,208	$ 2,608,874	$ 2,436,260	$ 2,963,560	$ 2,518,600	$ 2,383,659	$ 11,390,947		$ 10,302,079		$ 11,229,073
Operating income (loss)	225,548	388,894	346,512	394,045	324,202	690,852	342,984	(56,857)	1,354,999		1,301,181		2,013,234
Consolidated net income	151,353	244,182	168,055	166,982	301,850	342,670	370,583	(146,740)	730,572	[1]	868,363	[1]	1,367,372	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation	146,929	239,850	163,723	161,400	296,267	337,088	365,001	(151,683)	711,902		846,673		1,346,439
Basic earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.82	$ 1.35	$ 0.92	$ 0.91	$ 1.67	$ 1.90	$ 2.06	$ (0.86)	$ 3.99		$ 4.77		$ 7.59
Diluted earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.82	$ 1.34	$ 0.92	$ 0.90	$ 1.67	$ 1.89	$ 2.06	$ (0.86)	$ 3.99		$ 4.76		$ 7.55
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Operating revenues	491,443	647,671	508,653	542,392	493,603	656,201	502,022	475,178
Operating income (loss)	23,123	157,681	80,942	43,314	26,833	152,836	87,899	39,816	305,060		307,384		358,354
Consolidated net income	24,169	82,577	40,483	14,719	10,185	82,551	45,755	13,874	161,948		152,365		164,891
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									155,075		145,492		158,018
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	22,450	80,859	38,765	13,001	8,466	80,833	44,037	12,156
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Operating revenues	470,486	558,331	492,361	419,955	419,465	434,451	401,356	399,622	1,941,133		1,654,894		2,134,409
Operating income (loss)	56,114	85,284	53,856	52,083	52,138	85,561	56,037	55,226	247,337		248,962		330,711
Consolidated net income	42,135	62,642	29,720	27,165	30,020	50,210	50,389	28,358	161,662		158,977		201,604
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									160,837		158,152		200,779
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	41,928	62,436	29,514	26,959	29,813	50,004	50,183	28,152
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Operating revenues	602,256	782,789	635,805	606,085	491,254	614,044	561,787	482,358
Operating income (loss)	56,128	145,847	88,691	64,728	32,397	121,725	(41,253)	36,142	355,394		149,011		86,109
Consolidated net income	45,114	100,597	61,377	45,376	36,864	80,208	130,714	33,295	252,464		281,081		473,923
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									245,514		274,131		466,973
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	43,378	98,859	59,639	43,638	35,128	78,470	128,976	31,557
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Operating revenues	319,027	397,833	326,039	291,641	259,631	321,771	277,204	261,760
Operating income (loss)	36,112	70,186	46,809	37,123	30,621	59,331	42,225	28,338	190,230		160,515		181,389
Consolidated net income	15,458	33,813	18,954	13,934	(4,908)	27,080	15,914	8,682	82,159		46,768		108,729
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									79,331		43,940		105,901
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	14,751	33,106	18,247	13,227	(5,615)	26,373	15,207	7,975
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Operating revenues	152,208	178,641	142,841	146,466	149,775	161,565	129,244	129,156	620,156		569,740		630,185
Operating income (loss)	3,070	15,895	3,627	4,272	3,066	19,565	10,009	3,250	26,864		35,890		63,128
Consolidated net income	1,692	8,086	598	1,307	(716)	10,555	7,186	40	11,683		17,065		35,976
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									10,718		16,100		35,011
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	1,450	7,845	357	1,066	(958)	10,314	6,945	(201)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Operating revenues	440,548	526,978	455,100	306,173	407,427	489,078	358,067	326,924
Operating income (loss)	30,071	79,430	38,355	26,277	34,533	61,234	48,983	25,063	174,133		169,813		215,020
Consolidated net income	10,205	35,801	10,953	922	4,788	19,234	16,204	1,745	57,881		41,971		80,845
System Energy [Member]
Operating revenues	201,655	192,679	172,177	168,578	193,705	188,680	113,699	126,034
Operating income (loss)	47,367	52,029	51,632	52,052	58,776	58,934	38,245	35,456	203,080		191,411		150,602
Consolidated net income	$ 22,819	$ 35,105	$ 27,734	$ 28,006	$ 19,346	$ 30,616	$ 35,368	$ 26,536	$ 113,664		$ 111,866		$ 64,197

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2013, 2012, and 2011 include $12.0 million, $15.0 million, and $13.3 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.