Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	$ 23,920	$ 20,294
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	(374)
Amortization of loss	(70,296)	(35,836)
Settlement loss	(1,401)	(3,643)
Total	(48,151)	(19,185)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,557)	(1,559)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	(374)
Amortization of loss	(50,508)	(26,934)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	(52,439)	(28,493)
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	25,905	22,280
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	0
Amortization of loss	(17,613)	(6,689)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	8,292	15,591
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(428)	(427)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	0
Amortization of loss	(2,175)	(2,213)
Settlement loss	(1,401)	(3,643)
Total	(4,004)	(6,283)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,464	5,614
Amortization of loss	(10,140)	(4,637)
Settlement loss	(14)
Total	(2,690)	977
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0
Amortization of loss	(3,003)	(1,911)
Settlement loss	0
Total	(3,003)	(1,911)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,467	5,614
Amortization of loss	(7,118)	(2,723)
Settlement loss	0
Total	349	2,891
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(3)	0
Amortization of loss	(19)	(3)
Settlement loss	(14)
Total	$ (36)	$ (3)