Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Basic earnings per average common share
Net income attributable to Entergy Corporation, Income	$ 154,139,000	$ 628,054,000	$ 315,583,000	$ 248,663,000	$ 228,291,000	$ 492,886,000	$ 315,266,000	$ 213,799,000	$ 1,346,439,000	$ 1,250,242,000	$ 1,231,092,000
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, Shares									177,430,208	186,010,452	192,772,032
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, $/share	$ 0.88	$ 3.55	$ 1.77	$ 1.39	$ 1.27	$ 2.65	$ 1.67	$ 1.13	$ 7.59	$ 6.72	$ 6.39
Average dilutive effect of:
Stock options, Shares									1,000,000	1,800,000	2,200,000
Stock options $/share									$ (0.04)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.07)
Equity units, Income											3,200,000
Equity units, Share											800,000
Equity units $/share											$ (0.02)
Diluted earnings per share, Income									$ 1,346,400,000	$ 1,250,200,000	$ 1,234,300,000
Diluted earnings per share, Shares									178,370,695	187,814,235	195,838,068
Diluted earnings per share $/share	$ 0.88	$ 3.53	$ 1.76	$ 1.38	$ 1.26	$ 2.62	$ 1.65	$ 1.12	$ 7.55	$ 6.66	$ 6.30