Common Equity (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) plan $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares
Number of equity ownership plans | plan		2
Authorization of repurchase of common stock	$ 500,000	$ 350,000
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared | $ / shares		$ 3.34	$ 3.32	$ 3.32
Dividend payments received from subsidiaries		$ 615,000	$ 893,000	$ 702,000
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		598,897	596,117	591,440
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Restricted retained earnings unavailable for distribution		394,900
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash			10,000	15,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Restricted retained earnings unavailable for distribution		68,500
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		40,000	61,400	7,400
System Energy [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		200,750	101,930	70,286
Common Stock [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		0	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash			0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		0	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ (70,000)	$ 0	$ 0