Equity (Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	$ 606,273,000	$ 552,810,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(13,623,000)	(17,990,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	116,536,000	(162,000)
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	38,306,000	40,992,000
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,640,000)	(2,628,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	15,275,000	17,584,000
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	10,855,000	11,238,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(860,000)	(1,371,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	12,042,000	2,364,000
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	21,789,000	21,248,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Competitive Energy Revenue	(2,117,000)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(405,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	936,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Investment Income, Interest and Dividend	995,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	2,384,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(18,048,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	5,869,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	206,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,947,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	786,000
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)	62,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	(1,287,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ 547,000