Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		$ (274,303)	$ (29,324)	$ (293,083)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		36,515	(58,798)	38,420
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(5,742)	108,506	11,133
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,684)	30,773	49,708	49,553
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	20,384	(243,530)	20,384	(243,530)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		2,424	3,420	3,177
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		706	(267)	(47)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		706	(267)	(47)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,153	3,130	3,153	3,130
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		262,891	337,256	214,547
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		45,647	56,056	95,843
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		653	(4,322)	(1,199)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		46,300	51,734	94,644
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	388,990	309,191	388,990	309,191
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		(571,138)	(288,223)	(590,712)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		15,430	(6,281)	35,004
Other comprehensive income (loss)		15,430	(6,281)	35,004
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(294,504)	(555,708)	(294,504)	(555,708)
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance		31,520	(81,777)	79,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(9,838)	(114,587)	(57,376)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(21,825)	119,109	(22,672)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(31,663)	4,522	(80,048)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(77,255)	(143)	(77,255)	(143)
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)	137	963	396	2,880
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(27,806)		(27,806)
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	(27,943)	(63,312)	(28,202)	(65,229)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	137	963	396	2,880
Other comprehensive income (loss)	137	963	396	2,880
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(27,806)	(62,349)	(27,806)	(62,349)
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)	(287)	684	(876)	2,045
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(10,511)		(10,511)
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	(10,224)	(44,771)	(9,635)	(46,132)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(287)	684	(876)	2,045
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(287)	684	(876)	2,045
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(10,511)	(44,087)	(10,511)	(44,087)
Parent Company [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	31,068
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(4,354)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(6,330)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,684)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	20,384		20,384
Parent Company [Member] | Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,815
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(662)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(662)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	3,153		3,153
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	399,480
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(9,475)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(1,015)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,490)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	388,990		388,990
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	(297,460)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	2,956
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,956
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(294,504)		(294,504)
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	(74,767)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	5,783
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(8,271)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,488)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (77,255)		$ (77,255)