Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit And Short-Term Borrowings (Book Value And The Fair Value Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 12,576,682,000	$ 12,849,330,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	12,620,374,000	12,638,834,000
Notes payable to power authority	111,000,000	110,000,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	2,265,544,000	1,876,335,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	2,462,111,000	2,123,895,000
Long term DOE obligations	181,000,000	181,000,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,715,151,000	1,668,819,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	1,657,248,000	1,517,429,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	2,964,920,000	2,921,322,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	3,007,262,000	2,826,095,000
Capital Lease Obligations	151,000,000	163,000,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,170,851,000	1,230,714,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	1,139,591,000	1,169,519,000
Entergy New Orleans
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	294,081,000	200,725,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	295,938,000	196,300,000
Entergy Texas [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,754,086,000	1,885,672,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	1,584,877,000	1,617,813,000
System Energy [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	650,918,000	664,670,000
Long-term Debt, Book Value	742,954,000	783,799,000
Capital Lease Obligations	$ 98,000,000	$ 139,000,000