Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			$ (293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			1,905
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			16,875
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(274,303)		(274,303)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	29,355	(109,264)	18,780	92,855
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			(753)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	2,424		2,424
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			(753)
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			50,196
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(1,852)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	262,891		262,891
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			48,344
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			19,574
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(571,138)		(571,138)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			19,574
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax			(47,538)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			(847)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	31,520		31,520
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease			(48,385)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(65,229)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(63,312)		(63,312)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	962	10,507	1,917	11,535
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(64,274)		(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	962		1,917
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(63,312)		(63,312)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	962		1,917
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(46,132)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(44,771)		(44,771)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	683	607	1,361	1,260
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(45,454)		(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	683		1,361
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(44,771)		(44,771)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	683		1,361
Parent Company [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(303,658)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	22,866
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	6,489
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(274,303)		(274,303)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	29,355
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	2,405
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	19
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	2,424		2,424
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	19
Parent Company [Member] | Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	270,924
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(7,176)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(857)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	262,891		262,891
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	(8,033)
Parent Company [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(580,917)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	9,779
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(571,138)		(571,138)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	9,779
Parent Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,930
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	30,023
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(2,433)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	31,520		31,520
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease	$ 27,590