Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit And Short-Term Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 Commercial Paper Program [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Entergy Arkansas [Member] Forty Five Million Dollar PCRB Two Point Three Seven Five Percent Due January Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Entergy Arkansas [Member] Fifty Four Million PCRB One Point Five Five Percent Due October Two Thousand Seventeen [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Entergy Mississippi [Member] Five Point One Five Percent Series First Mortgage Bonds Due February Two Thousand Thirteen [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Entergy Texas [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy Texas [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Entergy New Orleans	Mar. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 3,500,000,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity	50.00%			50.00%			50.00%	50.00%		50.00%
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.275%										0.275%							0.125%
Debt, weighted average interest rate		0.84%	1.98%
Consolidated debt ratio											65.00%	65.00%	65.00%	65.00%	65.00%	65.00%	65.00%
Commercial Paper program limit	1,000,000,000
Commerical Paper Amount Outstanding	883,700,000
Debt ratio												65.00%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount	0.20%
Repayments of debt					$ 45,000,000	$ 54,700,000			$ 100,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					2.375%	1.55%			5.15%
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization											70