Common Equity (Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ (293,083)			$ (29,324)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	271,434
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,675)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	263,759	(124,631)	(130,240)
Cash flow hedges net unrealized gain (loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	79,905			(81,777)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(133,312)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,370)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(161,682)
Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(590,712)			(288,223)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	260,567
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	41,922
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	302,489
Net unrealized investment gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	214,547			337,256
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	143,936
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(21,227)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	122,709
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,177			3,420
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	243
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	243
Entergy Gulf States [Member] | Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(65,229)			(28,202)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	33,233
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,794
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	37,027
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(46,132)			(9,635)
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	36,497	(6,625)	(14,545)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(46,132)			(9,635)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	33,869
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	2,628
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	$ 36,497