Risk Management and Fair Values (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other non-current liabilities [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Liabilities:
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	$ 49	$ 47
Derivative liability as hedging instrument offset	(25)	(30)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other non-current liabilities [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Liabilities:
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	2	7
Derivative liability as hedging instrument offset	(1)	(7)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other deferred debits and other assets [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Assets:
Derivative Asset, Fair value	23	82
Derivative asset as hedging instrument offset	(23)	(29)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other deferred debits and other assets [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Assets:
Derivative Asset, Fair value	3	14
Derivative asset as hedging instrument offset	(3)	(8)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Prepayments and other [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Assets:
Derivative Asset, Fair value	93	160
Derivative asset as hedging instrument offset	(11)	(7)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Prepayments and other [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Assets:
Derivative Asset, Fair value	21	2
Derivative asset as hedging instrument offset	(8)	0
Utility [Member] \| Other current liabilities [Member] \| Natural gas swaps [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Liabilities:
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	16	2
Derivative liability as hedging instrument offset	0	0
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other current liabilities [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Liabilities:
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	11	5
Derivative liability as hedging instrument offset	(11)	(5)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] \| Other current liabilities [Member] \| Electricity forwards, swaps and options [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Liabilities:
Derivative Liability, Fair Value	8	2
Derivative liability as hedging instrument offset	$ (8)	$ (2)

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The amount of the obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against net derivative instrument positions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=d3e41678-113959

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

The amount of the right to reclaim cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against net derivative instrument positions.

+ References

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- Definition

Fair value of derivative asset, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph a

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Fair value of derivative liability, presented on a gross basis even when the derivative instrument is subject to master netting arrangements and qualifies for net presentation in the statement of financial position.

+ References

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