Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines of Credit and Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt (Details 2) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011
Book value and fair value of long term debt
Book value of long term debt	$ 12,264,403,000
Fair value of long-term debt	12,211,941,000
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | 9% Series H due June 2013 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	30,000,000
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | 5.69% Series I due July 2014 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	70,000,000
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | 3.23% Series J due July 2016 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	55,000,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana VIE [Member] | 5.56% Series N due May 2013 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	75,000,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana VIE [Member] | 5.41% Series O due July 2012 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	60,000,000
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member] | 5.69% Series E due July 2014 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	50,000,000
System Energy VIE [Member] | 6.29% Series F due September 2013 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	70,000,000
System Energy VIE [Member] | 5.33% Series G due April 2015 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	60,000,000
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member] | 3.30% Series F, due March 2016 [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Long-Term Notes Payable	$ 20,000,000