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
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	$ 116,536	$ (162)
Net income	166,982	(146,740)
Earnings applicable to common equity	161,400	(151,683)
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	98,671	38,858
Changes in other regulatory assets	167,634	60,857
Other operating activities	147,223	(49,479)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	13,628	11,763
Net income	14,719	13,874
Earnings applicable to common equity	13,001	12,156
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	24,215	34,625
Changes in other regulatory assets	16,763	21,956
Other operating activities	2,963	9,411
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	15,275	17,584
Net income	27,165	28,358
Earnings applicable to common equity	26,959	28,152
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	27,177	(56,657)
Changes in other regulatory assets	27,154	5,634
Other operating activities	74,352	5,533
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	12,042	2,364
Net income	45,376	33,295
Earnings applicable to common equity	43,638	31,557
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	41,558	22,771
Changes in other regulatory assets	82,089	7,800
Other operating activities	104,580	(5,218)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	8,365	5,847
Net income	13,934	8,682
Earnings applicable to common equity	13,227	7,975
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	4,806	(8,348)
Changes in other regulatory assets	(1,169)	(6,491)
Other operating activities	5,924	(4,393)
Entergy New Orleans
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	(277)	207
Net income	1,307	40
Earnings applicable to common equity	1,066	(201)
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(11,851)	(3,531)
Changes in other regulatory assets	3,421	5,519
Other operating activities	10,190	244
Entergy Texas [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	2,977	1,988
Net income	922	1,745
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(31,998)	3,184
Changes in other regulatory assets	24,771	18,716
Other operating activities	(916)	(7,220)
System Energy [Member]
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Income taxes	19,000	13,686
Net income	28,006	26,536
Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	16,477	45,966
Changes in other regulatory assets	5,784	2,716
Other operating activities	$ 827	$ 1,460