Equity (Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	$ 606,016,000		$ 621,046,000		$ 2,097,516,000		$ 1,754,436,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(6,644,000)		(10,214,000)		(33,026,000)		(36,992,000)
Realized gain (loss)	49,547,000		23,430,000		109,040,000		102,277,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	396,681,000		268,735,000		1,342,724,000		793,422,000
Income taxes (benefits)	(161,765,000)		(24,553,000)		(507,474,000)		(214,202,000)
Consolidated net income	234,916,000		244,182,000		835,250,000		579,220,000	[1]
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Consolidated net income	6,330,000		5,742,000		(108,506,000)		(11,133,000)
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	1,015,000		(653,000)		4,322,000		1,199,000
Parent Company [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments			(1,304,000)				(1,304,000)
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	13,000,000		35,325,000		(182,275,000)		37,518,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(275,000)		(389,000)		(970,000)		(1,193,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	12,725,000		34,936,000		(183,245,000)		36,325,000
Income taxes (benefits)	(4,454,000)		(13,111,000)		64,136,000		(13,653,000)
Consolidated net income	8,271,000		21,825,000		(119,109,000)		22,672,000
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 (loss)	1,990,000		(1,280,000)		8,474,000		2,351,000
Income taxes (benefits)	975,000		(627,000)		4,152,000		1,152,000
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	5,074,000		2,414,000		15,227,000		7,175,000
Amortization of loss	(8,952,000)		(17,179,000)		(26,903,000)		(53,268,000)
Settlement loss	(423,000)		(9,662,000)		(2,971,000)		(9,662,000)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(4,301,000)		(25,731,000)		(14,647,000)		(57,059,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	1,345,000		10,301,000		20,928,000		22,055,000
Consolidated net income	(2,956,000)		(15,430,000)		6,281,000		(35,004,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments			(1,304,000)				(1,304,000)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,477,000)		(2,822,000)		(7,844,000)		(7,861,000)
Realized gain (loss)	11,565,000		9,428,000		29,058,000		34,239,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	84,309,000		74,253,000		214,053,000		164,301,000
Income taxes (benefits)	(28,774,000)		(11,611,000)		(75,875,000)		(44,773,000)
Consolidated net income	55,535,000		62,642,000		138,178,000		119,528,000
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]	206,000	[2]	1,677,000	[2]	617,000	[2]
Amortization of loss	(782,000)	[2]	(1,947,000)	[2]	(2,345,000)	[2]	(5,839,000)	[2]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(223,000)		(1,741,000)		(668,000)		(5,222,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	86,000		778,000		272,000		2,342,000
Consolidated net income	(137,000)		(963,000)		(396,000)		(2,880,000)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	320,000		(618,000)		1,462,000		(2,271,000)
Realized gain (loss)	34,212,000		21,149,000		76,476,000		64,064,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	168,152,000		139,740,000		343,025,000		279,411,000
Income taxes (benefits)	(44,331,000)		(39,143,000)		(91,159,000)		(72,061,000)
Consolidated net income	123,821,000		100,597,000		251,866,000		207,350,000
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	844,000	[2]	62,000	[2]	2,533,000	[2]	186,000	[2]
Amortization of loss	(378,000)	[2]	(1,288,000)	[2]	(1,134,000)	[2]	(3,862,000)	[2]
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	466,000		(1,226,000)		1,399,000		(3,676,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	(179,000)		542,000		(523,000)		1,631,000
Consolidated net income	$ 287,000		$ (684,000)		$ 876,000		$ (2,045,000)

[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 income (loss) components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 6 to the financial statements herein for additional details.