Equity (Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	$ 527,117,000	$ 560,171,000	$ 1,133,390,000	$ 1,112,982,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(13,157,000)	(13,036,000)	(26,779,000)	(31,025,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	73,113,000	(122,201,000)	189,648,000	(122,363,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	40,541,000	29,285,000	78,847,000	70,276,000
Parent Company [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	4,309,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(399,000)
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	2,383,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(18,047,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	1,681,000
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			2,192,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)			(804,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,477,000)		(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]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(824,000)		(1,779,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend			3,631,000
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]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)			4,767,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)			(36,095,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	5,885,000		11,754,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,400,000)	(2,485,000)	(5,040,000)	(5,112,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	17,887,000	(5,548,000)	33,162,000	12,036,000
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	13,956,000	8,670,000	24,811,000	19,908,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)			411,000.000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)			(3,892,000.000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)			1,564,000.000
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]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	205,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,945,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	778,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(793,000)	(828,000)	(1,653,000)	(2,199,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	20,876,000	(172,969,000)	32,918,000	(170,605,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	21,126,000	20,364,000	42,915,000	41,612,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)			124,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)			(2,574,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)			1,089,000
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]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	62,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,287,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 542,000