Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$ 8,951	$ (42,307)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	115,055	(8,776)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(94,214)	(8,654)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20,841	(17,430)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	29,792	(59,737)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	2,028	2,669
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(284)	(551)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(284)	(551)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	1,744	2,118
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	367,557	426,695
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	25,032	12,658
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(1,963)	(8,655)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	23,069	4,003
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	390,626	430,698
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(466,604)	(569,789)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	0	13
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	7,562	8,435
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,562	8,448
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(459,042)	(561,341)
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	105,970	98,118
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	90,307	(20,896)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(99,813)	(8,434)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(9,506)	(29,330)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	96,464	68,788
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(56,412)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(263)	380
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(56,675)
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	(56,412)	(79,223)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(263)	380
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(263)	380
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (56,675)	$ (78,843)