Equity (Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	$ 587,339,000		$ 527,117,000		$ 1,491,498,000		$ 1,133,390,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(14,675,000)		(13,157,000)		(26,379,000)		(26,779,000)
Realized gain	24,245,000		40,541,000		59,493,000		78,847,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	323,024,000		241,168,000		946,043,000		524,686,000
Income taxes (benefits)	128,743,000		73,113,000		345,709,000		189,648,000
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	194,281,000		168,055,000		600,334,000		335,038,000	[1]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	(2,388,000)		(6,489,000)		(114,644,000)		(16,875,000)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(771,000)		3,910,000		(195,672,000)		1,388,000
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	(501,000)		2,433,000		(127,187,000)		847,000
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	1,572,000		857,000		3,306,000		1,852,000
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(5,281,000)		(15,664,000)		(10,346,000)		(31,328,000)
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	(3,459,000)		(9,779,000)		9,237,000		(19,574,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	(672,000)		4,309,000		(195,275,000)		2,192,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(99,000)		(399,000)		(397,000)		(804,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	270,000		(1,477,000)		68,485,000		(541,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Realized gain	3,083,000		1,681,000		6,483,000		3,631,000
Income taxes (benefits)	(1,511,000)		(824,000)		(3,177,000)		(1,779,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amortization of prior-service costs	5,075,000		2,383,000		10,153,000		4,767,000
Amortization of loss	(8,970,000)		(18,047,000)		(17,951,000)		(36,095,000)
Settlement loss	(1,386,000)				(2,548,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	1,822,000		5,885,000		19,583,000		11,754,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(3,649,000)		(2,400,000)		(5,367,000)		(5,040,000)
Realized gain	7,436,000		13,956,000		17,493,000		24,811,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	56,700,000		47,607,000		129,744,000		90,047,000
Income taxes (benefits)	20,529,000		17,887,000		47,101,000		33,162,000
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	36,171,000		29,720,000		82,643,000		56,885,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amortization of prior-service costs	559,000	[2]	205,000	[2]	1,118,000	[2]	411,000	[2]
Amortization of loss	(781,000)	[2]	(1,945,000)	[2]	(1,563,000)	[2]	(3,892,000)	[2]
Income taxes (benefits)	85,000		778,000		186,000		1,564,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	1,311,000		(793,000)		1,142,000		(1,653,000)
Realized gain	21,086,000		21,126,000		42,264,000		42,915,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	96,156,000		82,253,000		174,873,000		139,671,000
Income taxes (benefits)	26,489,000		20,876,000		46,828,000		32,918,000
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	69,667,000		61,377,000		128,045,000		106,753,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Amortization of prior-service costs	845,000	[2]	62,000	[2]	1,689,000	[2]	124,000	[2]
Amortization of loss	(378,000)	[2]	(1,287,000)	[2]	(756,000)	[2]	(2,574,000)	[2]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	467,000		(1,225,000)		933,000		(2,450,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	(180,000)		542,000		(344,000)		1,089,000
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	287,000		(683,000)		589,000		(1,361,000)
Entergy Gulf States [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(222,000)		(1,740,000)		(445,000)		(3,481,000)
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	$ (137,000)		$ (962,000)		$ (259,000)		$ (1,917,000)

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2014 and 2013 include $6.4 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.

[2] These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 6 to the financial statements herein for additional details.