Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$ (146,740)	$ 253,678
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	450,009	422,411
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	38,858	173,784
Asset impairment	355,524	0
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	156,202	102,711
Fuel inventory	(20,213)	(12,508)
Accounts payable	(145,599)	(154,398)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(89,583)	(63,918)
Interest accrued	(32,194)	(67,978)
Deferred fuel	77,405	(66,548)
Other working capital accounts	(34,753)	(102,294)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(15,030)	(779)
Changes in other regulatory assets	60,857	48,889
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(4,764)	(190,958)
Other	(49,479)	(18,991)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	600,500	323,101
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(563,539)	(486,561)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	25,448	17,289
Nuclear fuel purchases	(201,059)	(300,975)
Changes in securitization account	940	6,360
NYPA value sharing payment	(72,000)	(72,000)
Payment to storm reserve escrow account	(1,483)	(1,736)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	861	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	93,786	(21,212)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	535,551	492,682
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(567,780)	(530,672)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(749,275)	(896,825)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	1,034,945	411,444
Preferred stock	51,000	0
Common stock and treasury stock	32,826	12,280
Retirement of long-term debt	(859,648)	(278,084)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(54,404)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	32,782	68,244
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(146,674)	(148,678)
Preferred stock	(5,582)	(5,015)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	139,649	5,787
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(310)	(298)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(9,436)	(568,235)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	694,438	1,294,472
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	685,002	726,237
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	134,655	164,563
Income taxes	35,992	(4,380)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	13,874	25,608
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	88,981	81,884
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	34,625	23,272
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	17,958	21,567
Fuel inventory	(2,455)	(15,702)
Accounts payable	(211,524)	36,504
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(9,127)	(1,190)
Interest accrued	(10,974)	(6,930)
Deferred fuel	53,521	9,352
Other working capital accounts	14,682	(21,721)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(112)	2,149
Changes in other regulatory assets	21,956	10,319
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(9,770)	(73,531)
Other	9,411	(35,251)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	11,046	56,330
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(81,518)	(70,379)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	2,865	1,065
Nuclear fuel purchases	(34,595)	(61,561)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	49,879	0
Remittances to transition charge account	(3,968)	(3,711)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	54,727	31,042
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(57,898)	(40,021)
Change in money pool receivable - net	17,362	22,448
Investment in affiliates	0	10,994
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(53,146)	(110,123)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Change in money pool payable - net	49,043	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(21,376)	(10,016)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(13,100)
Preferred stock	(1,718)	(1,718)
Other	(765)	(90)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	25,184	(24,924)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(16,916)	(78,717)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,599	106,102
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,683	27,385
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	30,476	26,694
Income taxes	(10,584)	0
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	28,358	46,619
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	53,528	48,769
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(56,657)	(26,285)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	97,172	(14,666)
Fuel inventory	(7,611)	785
Accounts payable	(35,277)	(51,411)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	85,148	62,194
Interest accrued	5,137	4,965
Deferred fuel	8,144	(13,181)
Other working capital accounts	4,806	(28,764)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(2,870)	155
Changes in other regulatory assets	5,634	(17,243)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	513	(11,665)
Other	5,533	49,816
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	191,558	50,088
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(57,921)	(59,880)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	2,262	1,740
Nuclear fuel purchases	(18,614)	(62,237)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	26,820	0
Decrease (increase) in other investments	35	(43)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	38,087	11,902
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(43,222)	(16,450)
Change in money pool receivable - net	(49,584)	14,803
Proceeds from sale of investment	51,000	0
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(51,137)	(110,165)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(12,700)	40,300
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(22,600)	(78,400)
Preferred stock	(206)	(206)
Other	(713)	(204)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	(36,219)	(38,510)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	104,202	(98,587)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	24,845	155,173
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	129,047	56,586
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	15,152	15,596
Income taxes	0	(7)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	33,295	40,298
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	76,616	69,822
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	22,771	67,448
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	27,098	(30,234)
Fuel inventory	57	(28,153)
Accounts payable	(57,561)	(33)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(4,447)	(44,287)
Interest accrued	(4,574)	(6,059)
Deferred fuel	(21,520)	(31,290)
Other working capital accounts	19,986	(288)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(10,981)	(4,774)
Changes in other regulatory assets	7,800	2,807
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(3,965)	(29,844)
Other	(5,218)	1,189
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	79,357	6,602
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(93,844)	(108,014)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	8,449	7,374
Nuclear fuel purchases	(22,327)	(119,435)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	32,168	0
Remittances to transition charge account	(6,716)	0
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	770	0
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	6,795	6,077
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(9,861)	(9,038)
Change in money pool receivable - net	(13,383)	(34,370)
Other	0	(94)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(97,949)	(257,500)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	247,725	217,762
Retirement of long-term debt	(19,603)	(30,284)
Change in money pool payable - net	(118,415)	0
Changes in credit borrowings - net	(65,021)	61,253
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(600)	(12,400)
Preferred stock	(1,738)	(1,738)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	42,348	234,593
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	23,756	(16,305)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	878	123,254
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	24,634	106,949
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	36,039	33,726
Income taxes	(3,601)	0
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	8,682	17,314
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	23,787	22,987
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(8,348)	3,224
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	56,711	7,730
Fuel inventory	(1,861)	(44,456)
Accounts payable	(16,700)	(10,394)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(14,046)	(26,605)
Interest accrued	(4,633)	(532)
Deferred fuel	26,247	7,564
Other working capital accounts	4,981	(3,430)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	196	73
Changes in other regulatory assets	(6,491)	(6,888)
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(2,793)	(17,311)
Other	(4,393)	(2,060)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	61,339	(52,784)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(36,664)	(43,192)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	1,165	2,094
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	0
Change in money pool receivable - net	(7,978)	0
Other	(12)	(11)
Investment in affiliates	0	5,527
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(43,489)	(35,582)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Change in money pool payable - net	(1,999)	92,447
Dividends paid:
Common stock	0	(3,300)
Preferred stock	(707)	(707)
Other	(64)	(74)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,770)	88,366
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,080	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16	1,216
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	15,096	1,216
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	18,522	13,270
Income taxes	(8,407)	0
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	40	8,927
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	9,069	8,992
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(3,531)	(8,709)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	2,182	4,665
Fuel inventory	1,423	(2,595)
Accounts payable	(11,069)	(13,865)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	1,116	9,040
Interest accrued	(1,128)	(1,121)
Deferred fuel	1,800	(2,182)
Other working capital accounts	(11,241)	(3,124)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	746	2,328
Changes in other regulatory assets	5,519	2,051
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(1,896)	(6,804)
Other	244	(457)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	(6,726)	(2,854)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(14,938)	(15,085)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	149	106
Changes in securitization account	9,074	(2,742)
Decrease (increase) in other investments	(1,413)	(1,588)
Investment in affiliates	0	3,256
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(7,128)	(16,053)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Change in money pool payable - net	7,353	0
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(1,700)	(5,600)
Preferred stock	(241)	(241)
Other	(40)	(65)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	5,372	(5,906)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(8,482)	(24,813)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,834	54,986
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,352	30,173
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	3,719	3,669
Entergy Texas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	1,745	15,726
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	20,727	19,526
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	3,184	14,340
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	82,506	8,252
Fuel inventory	(7,173)	248
Accounts payable	(10,370)	6,120
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(17,324)	(15,502)
Interest accrued	(8,608)	(8,202)
Deferred fuel	9,213	(36,287)
Other working capital accounts	(3,131)	3,473
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	(192)	44
Changes in other regulatory assets	18,716	13,749
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(3,097)	(9,439)
Other	(7,220)	(23,051)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	78,976	(11,003)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(42,162)	(32,295)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	1,089	766
Remittances to transition charge account	(19,070)	(20,440)
Payments from transition charge account	30,694	30,510
Change in money pool receivable - net	7,184	13,672
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(22,265)	(7,787)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Retirement of long-term debt	(21,670)	(21,086)
Change in money pool payable - net	0	6,310
Dividends paid:
Other	(688)	(7)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	(22,358)	(14,783)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	34,353	(33,573)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	65,289	35,342
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	99,642	1,769
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	31,320	29,194
Income taxes	0	(4,500)
System Energy [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	26,536	19,336
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	45,391	50,981
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	45,966	(55,312)
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	11,964	10,634
Accounts payable	8,260	8,932
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(46,362)	53,904
Interest accrued	(2,300)	(37,428)
Other working capital accounts	(23,236)	(2,101)
Changes in other regulatory assets	2,716	38,385
Changes in pension and other postretirement liabilities	(2,859)	(16,279)
Other	1,460	(13,418)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities	67,536	57,634
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(140,334)	(52,796)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	9,469	4,145
Nuclear fuel purchases	(152,928)	(27,759)
Loan to affiliate	0	(22,000)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	125,431	88,605
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(133,552)	(97,485)
Change in money pool receivable - net	73,295	(8,180)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities	(218,619)	(115,470)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	50,000	0
Retirement of long-term debt	(39,892)	(38,161)
Changes in credit borrowings - net	69,179	(22,293)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(28,750)	(18,700)
Other	(1,431)	(1,475)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities	49,106	(80,629)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(101,977)	(138,465)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	185,157	263,772
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	83,180	125,307
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	9,805	12,039
Income taxes	$ (1,020)	$ 0