Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Preferred Membership Interest	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Preferred Membership Interest	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Capital Stock Expense and Other [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy New Orleans Common Stock [Member]	Entergy New Orleans Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy New Orleans Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member]	Subsidiaries' Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 470	$ 588,444	$ 855,210	$ 1,444,124	$ 10,000	$ 1,393,386	$ (69,610)	$ 1,333,776	$ 100,000	$ 2,504,436	$ (39,507)	$ 2,564,929	$ 199,326	$ (690)	$ 637,070	$ 835,706	$ 33,744	$ 36,294	$ 111,127	$ 181,165	$ 49,452	$ 481,994	$ 367,909	$ 899,355	$ 789,350	$ 11,213	$ 800,563	$ 94,000	$ 2,548	$ (5,680,468)	$ 5,360,682	$ 9,446,960	$ (168,452)	$ 9,055,270
Consolidated net income			13,874	13,874	0	28,358	0	28,358	0	33,295	0	33,295	0	0	8,682	8,682			40	40	0	0	1,745	1,745		26,536	26,536	4,943	0	0	0	(151,683)	0	(146,740)
Member contribution					0	1,000	0	1,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)					0	0	1,028	1,028	0	0	653	653																0	0	0	0	0	202,119	202,119
Common stock repurchased, value																												0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Common stock issuances related to stock plans																												0	0	57,995	(8,426)	0	0	49,569
Common stock dividends declared					0	(22,600)	0	(22,600)	0	(600)	0	(600)	0	0	0	0			(1,700)	(1,700)	0	0	0	0		(28,750)	(28,750)	0	0	0	0	(147,015)	0	(147,015)
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries			(1,718)	(1,718)	0	(206)	0	(206)	0	(1,738)	0	(1,738)	0	0	(707)	(707)			(241)	(241)								(4,943)	0	0	0	0	0	(4,943)
Other					0	(5)	0	(5)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	470	588,444	867,366	1,456,280	10,000	1,399,933	(68,582)	1,341,351	100,000	2,535,393	(38,854)	2,596,539	199,326	(690)	645,045	843,681	33,744	36,294	109,226	179,264	49,452	481,994	369,654	901,100	789,350	8,999	798,349	94,000	2,548	(5,622,473)	5,352,256	9,148,262	33,667	9,008,260
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	470	588,444	990,702	1,579,616	10,000	1,438,233	(65,229)	1,383,004	100,000	3,016,628	(46,132)	3,070,496	199,326	(690)	681,010	879,646	33,744	36,294	125,527	195,565	49,452	481,994	322,700	854,146	789,350	43,379	832,729	94,000	2,548	(5,574,819)	5,357,852	9,704,591	(293,083)	9,291,089
Consolidated net income			14,719	14,719	0	27,165	0	27,165	0	45,376	0	45,376	0	0	13,934	13,934			1,307	1,307	0	0	922	922		28,006	28,006	5,582	0	0	0	161,400	0	166,982
Member contribution					0	0	0	0
Distribution to parent									0	(20,601)	0	(20,601)
Other comprehensive income (loss)					0	0	955	955	0	0	678	678																0	0	0	0	0	(10,575)	(10,575)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans																												0	0	20,949	(7,967)	0	0	12,982
Common stock dividends declared			(15,000)	(15,000)	0	(119,900)	0	(119,900)	0	(20,000)	0	(20,000)			(7,400)	(7,400)			0	0	0	0	0	0		(50,000)	(50,000)	0	0	0	0	(147,820)	0	(147,820)
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	0	0	(1,718)	(1,718)	0	(206)	0	(206)	0	(1,738)	0	(1,738)	0	0	(707)	(707)			(241)	(241)								(5,582)	0	0	0	0	0	(5,582)
Other					0	(10)	0	(10)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 470	$ 588,444	$ 988,703	$ 1,577,617	$ 10,000	$ 1,345,282	$ (64,274)	$ 1,291,008	$ 100,000	$ 3,019,665	$ (45,454)	$ 3,074,211	$ 199,326	$ (690)	$ 686,837	$ 885,473	$ 33,744	$ 36,294	$ 126,593	$ 196,631	$ 49,452	$ 481,994	$ 323,622	$ 855,068	$ 789,350	$ 21,385	$ 810,735	$ 94,000	$ 2,548	$ (5,553,870)	$ 5,349,885	$ 9,718,171	$ (303,658)	$ 9,307,076