Variable Interest Entities (Imported)	6 Months Ended
Variable Interest Entities (Imported)	Jun. 30, 2012
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy New Orleans
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Entergy Texas [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
System Energy [Member]
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, System Energy) See Note 18 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of variable interest entities. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for details of the nuclear fuel companies' credit facility and commercial paper borrowings and long-term debt. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are each considered to hold a variable interest in the lessors from which they lease, respectively, undivided interests representing approximately 9.3% of the Waterford 3 and 11.5% of the Grand Gulf nuclear plants. Entergy Louisiana and System Energy are the lessees under these arrangements, which are described in more detail in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Entergy Louisiana made payments on its lease, including interest, of $26.8 million and $37.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. System Energy made payments on its lease, including interest, of $48.1 million and $47.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.