Retirement And Other Postretirement Benefits (Reclassification Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (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
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total
Parent Company [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	5,074	2,414	15,227	7,175
Amortization of loss	(8,952)	(17,179)	(26,903)	(53,268)
Settlement loss	(423)	(9,662)	(2,971)	(9,662)
Total	(4,301)	(25,731)	(14,647)	(57,059)
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments		(1,304)		(1,304)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	559	206	1,677	617
Amortization of loss	(782)	(1,947)	(2,345)	(5,839)
Total	(223)	(1,741)	(668)	(5,222)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	844	62	2,533	186
Amortization of loss	(378)	(1,288)	(1,134)	(3,862)
Total	466	(1,226)	1,399	(3,676)
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments	0	(1,304)	0	(1,304)
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(389)	(466)	(1,167)	(1,472)
Amortization of loss	(6,734)	(11,050)	(20,202)	(34,740)
Settlement loss	0		0
Total	(7,123)	(12,820)	(21,369)	(37,516)
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments		(1,304)		(1,304)
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0	0	(1)
Amortization of loss	(478)	(772)	(1,433)	(2,314)
Total	(478)	(772)	(1,433)	(2,315)
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0	0	0
Amortization of loss	0	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0	0
Other Postretirement [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	5,570	3,007	16,711	9,022
Amortization of loss	(1,673)	(5,485)	(5,019)	(16,455)
Settlement loss	0		0
Total	3,897	(2,478)	11,692	(7,433)
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	559	206	1,677	618
Amortization of loss	(303)	(1,173)	(909)	(3,520)
Total	256	(967)	768	(2,902)
Other Postretirement [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	844	62	2,533	186
Amortization of loss	(378)	(1,288)	(1,134)	(3,862)
Total	466	(1,226)	1,399	(3,676)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(107)	(127)	(317)	(375)
Amortization of loss	(545)	(644)	(1,682)	(2,073)
Settlement loss	(423)	(9,662)	(2,971)	(9,662)
Total	(1,075)	(10,433)	(4,970)	(12,110)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0	0	0
Amortization of loss	(1)	(2)	(3)	(5)
Total	(1)	(2)	(3)	(5)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0	0	0
Amortization of loss	0	0	0	0
Total	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0