Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,518,600		$ 2,803,279		$ 4,902,260		$ 5,344,488
Income taxes (benefits)	(122,201)		150,953		(122,363)		315,203
Consolidated net income	370,583		320,598		223,844	[1]	574,277	[1]
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	1,959,576		2,241,475		3,791,216		4,179,093
Income taxes (benefits)	(124,461)		139,036		(24,754)		229,241
Consolidated net income	308,525		252,741		375,738		421,394
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	567,674	[2]	568,076	[2]	1,127,925		1,178,223
Income taxes (benefits)	46,218	[2]	64,324	[2]	(44,189)		149,265
Consolidated net income	81,317	[2]	65,556	[2]	(87,196)		188,789
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	1,008		1,038		1,967		2,138
Income taxes (benefits)	(43,958)		(52,407)		(53,420)		(63,303)
Consolidated net income	7,136		29,946		(11,269)		19,383
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(9,658)		(7,310)		(18,848)		(14,966)
Consolidated net income	$ (26,395)		$ (27,645)		$ (53,429)		$ (55,289)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2012 and 2011 include $7.2 million and $6.7 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.

[2] Businesses marked with * are sometimes referred to as the "competitive businesses." Eliminations are primarily intersegment activity.