Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$ (29,324)	$ (293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(20,961)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(10,386)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	24,122	(10,575)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(5,202)	(303,658)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(772)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(772)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance		2,405
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		57,372
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		995
Other comprehensive income (loss)		56,377
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance		270,924
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(9,795)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		9,795
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance		(580,917)
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(77,561)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(1,586)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(75,975)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance		3,930
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(28,202)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	122	955
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(28,080)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(28,202)	(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(122)	(955)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	122	955
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(28,080)	(64,274)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(9,635)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(302)	678
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(9,937)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(9,635)	(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	302	(678)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(302)	678
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(9,937)	(45,454)
Parent Company [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(29,324)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	164,850
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(140,728)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	24,122
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(5,202)
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,420
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	75
Other comprehensive income (loss)	75
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,495
Parent Company [Member] | Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	337,256
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	24,723
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(1,734)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	22,989
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	360,245
Parent Company [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(288,223)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(12,696)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12,696)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(300,919)
Parent Company [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(81,777)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	140,052
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(126,298)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	13,754
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (68,023)