Rate And Regulatory Matters (Correction Of Regulatory Asset For Income Taxes, Income Statement And Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	$ (122,201)	$ 150,953	$ (122,363)		$ 315,203
Net income	370,583	320,598	223,844	[1]	574,277	[1]
Earnings applicable to common equity	365,001	315,583	213,318		564,246
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			(122,657)		305,121
Changes in other regulatory assets			113,645		96,549
Other operating activities			23,733		(9,301)
As Previously Reported [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes		31,071
Net income		49,310
Earnings applicable to common equity		49,104
As Corrected [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes		29,976
Net income		50,405
Earnings applicable to common equity		50,199
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	25,186	34,492	36,949		53,301
Net income	45,755	50,298	59,629		75,906
Earnings applicable to common equity	44,037	48,580	56,192		72,469
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			35,685		53,803
Changes in other regulatory assets			38,729		13,074
Other operating activities			(105,879)		(27,151)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	(5,548)	29,976	12,036		54,879
Net income	50,389	50,405	78,748		97,025
Earnings applicable to common equity	50,183	50,199	78,336		96,613
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			16,197		11,951
Changes in other regulatory assets			3,691		18,182
Other operating activities			1,432		26,030
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Previously Reported [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes					56,923
Net income					94,981
Earnings applicable to common equity					94,569
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued					13,995
Changes in other regulatory assets					21,505
Other operating activities					22,707
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | As Corrected [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes					54,879
Net income					97,025
Earnings applicable to common equity					96,613
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued					11,951
Changes in other regulatory assets					18,182
Other operating activities					26,030
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	(172,969)	27,010	(170,605)		36,997
Net income	130,714	75,103	164,009		115,401
Earnings applicable to common equity	128,976	73,365	160,534		111,926
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			(154,896)		92,865
Changes in other regulatory assets			16,784		(18,412)
Other operating activities			(2,109)		(8,260)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	12,739	13,600	18,586		22,925
Net income	15,914	23,829	24,596		41,143
Earnings applicable to common equity	15,207	23,122	23,182		39,729
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			5,627		26,630
Changes in other regulatory assets			4,773		(2,225)
Other operating activities			(3,342)		(4,157)
Entergy New Orleans
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	(99)	4,623	108		9,812
Net income	7,186	8,207	7,226		17,134
Earnings applicable to common equity	6,945	7,966	6,744		16,652
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			(9,083)		(13,330)
Changes in other regulatory assets			9,286		4,920
Other operating activities			1,700		(442)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	11,577	14,197	13,565		23,794
Net income	16,204	23,097	17,948		38,823
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			12,373		24,535
Changes in other regulatory assets			34,619		36,660
Other operating activities			(6,690)		(25,186)
System Energy [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	10,446	13,576	24,132		27,173
Net income	35,368	21,986	61,904		41,322
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued			73,886		(32,655)
Changes in other regulatory assets			(2,334)		34,791
Other operating activities			$ (5,347)		$ (3,021)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2012 and 2011 include $7.2 million and $6.7 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries' preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.