Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,383,659		$ 2,541,208
Income taxes (benefits)	(162)		164,250
Net income (loss)	(146,740)		253,678
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	1,831,640		1,937,618
Income taxes (benefits)	99,707		90,204
Net income (loss)	67,212		168,653
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	560,251	[1]	610,146	[1]
Income taxes (benefits)	(90,407)	[1]	84,941	[1]
Net income (loss)	(168,512)	[1]	123,233	[1]
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	959		1,101
Income taxes (benefits)	(9,462)		(10,895)
Net income (loss)	(18,405)		(10,563)
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(9,191)		(7,657)
Net income (loss)	$ (27,035)		$ (27,645)

[1] Businesses marked with * are sometimes referred to as the "competitive businesses." Eliminations are primarily intersegment activity.