Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,963,560	$ 3,395,553	$ 7,865,820	$ 8,740,041
Income taxes (benefits)	232,503	(119,131)	110,140	196,072
Consolidated net income	342,670	633,069	566,513	1,207,346
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,344,885	2,760,631	6,136,101	6,939,724
Income taxes (benefits)	187,668	(158,673)	162,914	70,567
Consolidated net income	300,506	528,459	676,244	949,854
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	626,849	641,216	1,754,774	1,819,439
Income taxes (benefits)	34,153	64,079	(10,036)	213,344
Consolidated net income	118,766	130,862	31,570	319,651
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	1,060	1,015	3,027	3,153
Income taxes (benefits)	10,682	(24,537)	(42,738)	(87,839)
Consolidated net income	(50,207)	1,393	(61,477)	20,776
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(9,234)	(7,309)	(28,082)	(22,275)
Consolidated net income	$ (26,395)	$ (27,645)	$ (79,824)	$ (82,935)