Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Preferred Membership Interest	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Preferred Membership Interest	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Capital Stock Expense and Other [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member]	Subsidiaries' Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 470	$ 588,444	$ 814,992	$ 1,403,906	$ 10,000	$ 1,494,593	$ (40,304)	$ 1,464,289	$ 100,000	$ 2,061,833	$ (24,962)	$ 2,136,871	$ 199,326	$ (690)	$ 534,469	$ 733,105	$ 33,744	$ 36,294	$ 118,116	$ 188,154	$ 49,452	$ 481,994	$ 292,844	$ 824,290	$ 789,350	$ 23,016	$ 812,366	$ 94,000	$ 2,548	$ (5,524,811)	$ 5,367,474	$ 8,689,401	$ (38,212)	$ 8,590,400
Net income (loss)			25,608	25,608		46,619		46,619		40,298		40,298			17,314	17,314			8,927	8,927			15,726	15,726		19,336	19,336	5,015				248,663		253,678
Other comprehensive income (loss)							743	743			734	734																					(28,965)	(28,965)
Common stock repurchased, value																														(54,404)				(54,404)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans																														22,930	(956)			21,974
Common stock dividends declared			(13,100)	(13,100)		(78,400)		(78,400)		(12,400)		(12,400)			(3,300)	(3,300)			(5,600)	(5,600)						(18,700)	(18,700)					(148,530)		(148,530)
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries			(1,718)	(1,718)		(206)		(206)		(1,738)		(1,738)			(707)	(707)			(241)	(241)								(5,015)						(5,015)
Other						(5)		(5)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	470	588,444	825,782	1,414,696	10,000	1,462,601	(39,561)	1,433,040	100,000	2,087,993	(24,228)	2,163,765	199,326	(690)	547,776	746,412	33,744	36,294	121,202	191,240	49,452	481,994	308,570	840,016	789,350	23,652	813,002	94,000	2,548	(5,556,285)	5,366,518	8,789,534	(67,177)	8,629,138
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	470	588,444	855,210	1,444,124	10,000	1,393,386	(69,610)	1,333,776	100,000	2,504,436	(39,507)	2,564,929	199,326	(690)	637,070	835,706	33,744	36,294	111,127	181,165	49,452	481,994	367,909	899,355	789,350	11,213	800,563	94,000	2,548	(5,680,468)	5,360,682	9,446,960	(168,452)	9,055,270
Net income (loss)			13,874	13,874		28,358		28,358		33,295		33,295			8,682	8,682			40	40			1,745	1,745		26,536	26,536	4,943				(151,683)		(146,740)
Member contribution						1,000		1,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)							1,028	1,028			653	653																					202,119	202,119
Common stock repurchased, value																														0				0
Common stock issuances related to stock plans																														57,995	(8,426)			49,569
Common stock dividends declared						(22,600)		(22,600)		(600)		(600)			0	0			(1,700)	(1,700)						(28,750)	(28,750)					(147,015)		(147,015)
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries			(1,718)	(1,718)		(206)		(206)		(1,738)		(1,738)			(707)	(707)			(241)	(241)								(4,943)						(4,943)
Other						(5)		(5)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 470	$ 588,444	$ 867,366	$ 1,456,280	$ 10,000	$ 1,399,933	$ (68,582)	$ 1,341,351	$ 100,000	$ 2,535,393	$ (38,854)	$ 2,596,539	$ 199,326	$ (690)	$ 645,045	$ 843,681	$ 33,744	$ 36,294	$ 109,226	$ 179,264	$ 49,452	$ 481,994	$ 369,654	$ 901,100	$ 789,350	$ 8,999	$ 798,349	$ 94,000	$ 2,548	$ (5,622,473)	$ 5,352,256	$ 9,148,262	$ 33,667	$ 9,008,260