Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		$ (303,658)	$ (29,324)	$ (293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		22,866	(54,252)	1,905
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		6,489	114,644	16,875
Other comprehensive income (loss)	36,270	29,355	60,392	18,780
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	31,068	(274,303)	31,068	(274,303)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		2,405	3,420	3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		19	395	(753)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		19	395	(753)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,815	2,424	3,815	2,424
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		270,924	337,256	214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(7,176)	65,530	50,196
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(857)	(3,306)	(1,852)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(8,033)	62,224	48,344
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	399,480	262,891	399,480	262,891
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		(580,917)	(288,223)	(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		9,779	(9,237)	19,574
Other comprehensive income (loss)		9,779	(9,237)	19,574
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(297,460)	(571,138)	(297,460)	(571,138)
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		3,930	(81,777)	79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		30,023	(120,177)	(47,538)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(2,433)	127,187	(847)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		27,590	7,010	(48,385)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(74,767)	31,520	(74,767)	31,520
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(28,202)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	137	962	259	1,917
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(27,943)		(27,943)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(28,080)	(64,274)	(28,202)	(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	137	962	259	1,917
Other comprehensive income (loss)	137	962	259	1,917
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(27,943)	(63,312)	(27,943)	(63,312)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(9,635)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(287)	683	(589)	1,361
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(10,224)		(10,224)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(9,937)	(45,454)	(9,635)	(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(287)	683	(589)	1,361
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(287)	683	(589)	1,361
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(10,224)	(44,771)	(10,224)	(44,771)
Parent Company [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(5,202)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	33,882
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	2,388
Other comprehensive income (loss)	36,270
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	31,068		31,068
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,495
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	320
Other comprehensive income (loss)	320
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,815		3,815
Parent Company [Member] | Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	360,245
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	40,807
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(1,572)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	39,235
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	399,480		399,480
Parent Company [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(300,919)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	3,459
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,459
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(297,460)		(297,460)
Parent Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(68,023)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(7,245)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	501
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,744)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (74,767)		$ (74,767)