Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 3,395,553	$ 3,332,176	$ 8,740,041		$ 8,954,473
Income taxes (benefits)	(119,131)	184,636	196,072		536,227
Consolidated net income	633,069	497,901	1,207,346	[1]	1,036,999	[1]
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,760,631	2,666,727	6,939,724		7,016,664
Income taxes (benefits)	(158,673)	216,590	70,567		447,607
Consolidated net income	528,459	337,941	949,854		711,085
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	641,216	671,927	1,819,439		1,954,393
Income taxes (benefits)	64,079	30,728	213,344		185,616
Consolidated net income	130,862	143,721	319,651		338,820
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	1,015	971	3,153		4,997
Income taxes (benefits)	(24,537)	(62,682)	(87,839)		(96,996)
Consolidated net income	1,393	45,432	20,776		53,005
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(7,310)	(7,449)	(22,275)		(21,581)
Consolidated net income	$ (27,645)	$ (29,193)	$ (82,935)		$ (65,911)

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for both 2010 and 2011 include $10.1 million of preferred dividends on subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.