Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$ 45,305	$ 43,493	$ 74,654
Interest cost	71,934	71,841	79,453
Expected return on assets	(45,375)	(44,787)	(40,323)
Amortization of prior credit	(37,280)	(31,590)	(14,904)
Recognized net loss	31,573	11,143	44,178
Curtailment loss	0	0	12,729
Net periodic pension costs	66,157	50,100	155,787
Prior service credit for period	(48,192)	(35,864)	(116,571)
Net (gain)/loss	(154,339)	287,313	(405,976)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	37,280	31,590	14,904
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0	0	1,989
Amortization of net loss	31,573	11,143	44,178
Total	(196,824)	271,896	(549,832)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(130,667)	321,996	(394,045)
Prior service cost	(45,485)	(37,280)	(31,589)
Net loss	18,214	31,591	11,197
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior credit	58,800	60,300
Net periodic pension costs	22,800	32,400	54,500
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	175,046	140,436	172,280
Interest cost	302,777	290,076	263,296
Expected return on assets	(394,618)	(361,462)	(328,227)
Amortization of prior credit	1,561	1,600	2,125
Recognized net loss	235,922	145,095	213,194
Curtailment loss	374	0	16,318
Special termination benefit	76	732	13,139
Net periodic pension costs	321,138	216,477	352,125
Net (gain)/loss	50,762	1,389,912	(894,150)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(1,561)	(1,600)	(2,125)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	(374)	0	(1,307)
Amortization of net loss	235,922	145,095	213,194
Total	(187,095)	1,243,217	(1,110,776)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	134,043	1,459,694	(758,651)
Prior service cost	1,079	1,561	1,600
Net loss	195,321	237,013	146,958
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,957	5,957	9,619
Interest cost	12,518	12,261	13,545
Expected return on assets	(19,190)	(19,135)	(16,843)
Amortization of prior credit	(2,441)	(2,441)	(689)
Recognized net loss	5,356	1,267	7,976
Curtailment loss			4,517
Net periodic pension costs	3,200	(2,091)	18,125
Prior service credit for period	(18,035)	0	(11,617)
Net (gain)/loss	(11,978)	55,642	(81,236)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,441	2,441	689
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			78
Amortization of net loss	5,356	1,267	7,976
Total	(32,928)	56,816	(100,062)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(29,728)	54,725	(81,937)
Prior service cost	(5,472)	(2,441)	(2,441)
Net loss	4,256	5,356	1,267
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	446	754	448
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	26,646	20,090	25,229
Interest cost	61,885	59,537	54,473
Expected return on assets	(80,102)	(73,218)	(66,951)
Amortization of prior credit		0	23
Recognized net loss	54,254	35,956	49,517
Curtailment loss			4,938
Special termination benefit			1,784
Net periodic pension costs	62,683	42,365	69,013
Net (gain)/loss	16,687	300,907	(177,105)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		0	(23)
Amortization of net loss	54,254	35,956	49,517
Total	(37,567)	264,951	(226,645)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	25,116	307,316	(157,632)
Prior service cost			0
Net loss	43,747	54,254	35,984
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	9,893	9,414	16,451
Interest cost	16,311	16,642	18,374
Expected return on assets	0	0	0
Amortization of prior credit	(7,467)	(5,614)	(1,450)
Recognized net loss	7,118	2,723	9,648
Curtailment loss			3,394
Net periodic pension costs	25,855	23,165	46,417
Prior service credit for period	(1,361)	(12,845)	(27,549)
Net (gain)/loss	(47,043)	61,049	(84,681)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	7,467	5,614	1,450
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			132
Amortization of net loss	7,118	2,723	9,648
Total	(48,055)	51,095	(120,296)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(22,200)	74,260	(73,879)
Prior service cost	(7,783)	(7,467)	(5,612)
Net loss	2,926	7,118	2,723
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	377	135	163
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	34,396	25,706	31,302
Interest cost	69,465	66,984	61,598
Expected return on assets	(90,803)	(83,746)	(76,930)
Amortization of prior credit		0	92
Recognized net loss	59,802	40,446	57,481
Curtailment loss			4,347
Special termination benefit			2,439
Net periodic pension costs	72,860	49,390	80,329
Net (gain)/loss	16,618	318,932	(221,844)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		0	(92)
Amortization of net loss	59,802	40,446	57,481
Total	(43,184)	278,486	(279,417)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	29,676	327,876	(199,088)
Prior service cost			0
Net loss	47,809	59,802	40,295
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	2,028	1,900	3,246
Interest cost	3,436	3,655	4,289
Expected return on assets	(6,166)	(5,771)	(5,335)
Amortization of prior credit	(916)	(915)	(204)
Recognized net loss	860	149	2,534
Curtailment loss			596
Net periodic pension costs	(758)	(982)	5,126
Prior service credit for period	0	0	(4,714)
Net (gain)/loss	774	9,525	(30,018)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	916	915	204
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			20
Amortization of net loss	860	149	2,534
Total	830	10,291	(37,042)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	72	9,309	(31,916)
Prior service cost	(933)	(916)	(918)
Net loss	893	860	149
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	235	190	192
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	7,929	6,094	7,295
Interest cost	18,007	17,273	15,802
Expected return on assets	(24,420)	(22,794)	(21,139)
Amortization of prior credit		0	10
Recognized net loss	14,896	9,415	13,189
Curtailment loss			767
Special termination benefit			359
Net periodic pension costs	16,412	9,988	16,283
Net (gain)/loss	6,329	88,199	(52,525)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		0	(10)
Amortization of net loss	14,896	9,415	13,189
Total	(8,567)	78,784	(65,724)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	7,845	88,772	(49,441)
Prior service cost			0
Net loss	11,938	14,896	9,421
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	818	868	1,752
Interest cost	2,608	2,805	3,135
Expected return on assets	(4,804)	(4,475)	(4,101)
Amortization of prior credit	(709)	(709)	(24)
Recognized net loss	470	56	1,509
Curtailment loss			354
Net periodic pension costs	(1,617)	(1,455)	2,625
Prior service credit for period	0	0	(4,469)
Net (gain)/loss	(5,810)	6,309	(18,508)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	709	709	24
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			(4)
Amortization of net loss	470	56	1,509
Total	(5,571)	6,962	(24,466)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(7,188)	5,507	(21,841)
Prior service cost	(745)	(709)	(709)
Net loss	146	470	56
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	64	95	92
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,395	2,666	3,264
Interest cost	8,432	8,164	7,462
Expected return on assets	(10,899)	(10,019)	(9,117)
Amortization of prior credit		0	2
Recognized net loss	8,053	5,796	7,878
Curtailment loss			343
Special termination benefit			581
Net periodic pension costs	8,981	6,607	10,413
Net (gain)/loss	1,853	38,161	(25,419)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		0	(2)
Amortization of net loss	8,053	5,796	7,878
Total	(6,200)	32,365	(33,299)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	2,781	38,972	(22,886)
Prior service cost			0
Net loss	6,460	8,053	5,802
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	2,000	2,378	3,760
Interest cost	5,366	5,652	6,076
Expected return on assets	(10,351)	(10,358)	(9,391)
Amortization of prior credit	(2,723)	(1,300)	(501)
Recognized net loss	2,740	801	3,744
Curtailment loss			1,436
Net periodic pension costs	(2,968)	(2,827)	5,124
Prior service credit for period	0	(8,536)	(5,359)
Net (gain)/loss	(4,907)	24,482	(34,562)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,723	1,300	501
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			62
Amortization of net loss	2,740	801	3,744
Total	(4,924)	16,445	(43,102)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(7,892)	13,618	(37,978)
Prior service cost	(2,722)	(2,723)	(1,301)
Net loss	2,148	2,740	800
Entergy Texas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	595	491	1,001
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,582	5,142	6,475
Interest cost	17,414	17,746	16,303
Expected return on assets	(24,887)	(23,723)	(22,277)
Amortization of prior credit		0	6
Recognized net loss	12,950	9,356	13,302
Curtailment loss			1,559
Special termination benefit			855
Net periodic pension costs	12,059	8,521	16,223
Net (gain)/loss	(4,488)	65,363	(55,772)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		0	(6)
Amortization of net loss	12,950	9,356	13,302
Total	(17,438)	56,007	(69,080)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(5,379)	64,528	(52,857)
Prior service cost			0
Net loss	9,358	12,950	9,363
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,881	2,058	3,580
Interest cost	2,511	2,611	2,945
Expected return on assets	(3,644)	(3,727)	(3,350)
Amortization of prior credit	(1,465)	(824)	(126)
Recognized net loss	1,198	443	1,896
Curtailment loss			760
Net periodic pension costs	481	561	5,705
Prior service credit for period	(644)	(3,845)	(4,591)
Net (gain)/loss	305	10,596	(17,579)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,465	824	126
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment			9
Amortization of net loss	1,198	443	1,896
Total	(72)	7,132	(23,931)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	409	7,693	(18,226)
Prior service cost	(1,570)	(1,465)	(824)
Net loss	1,149	1,198	464
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	7,827	5,785	7,242
Interest cost	13,970	13,561	12,170
Expected return on assets	(18,271)	(16,619)	(17,249)
Amortization of prior credit		2	9
Recognized net loss	13,055	9,500	9,560
Curtailment loss			0
Special termination benefit			1,970
Net periodic pension costs	16,581	12,229	13,702
Net (gain)/loss	101	60,763	(35,511)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)		(2)	(9)
Amortization of net loss	13,055	9,500	9,560
Total	(12,954)	51,261	(45,080)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	3,627	63,490	(31,378)
Prior service cost			2
Net loss	$ 10,414	$ 13,055	$ 9,510