Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
		Apr. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility			$ 3,500,000		$ 3,500,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity			50.00%		50.00%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			$ 400		$ 400
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					0.275%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			616,000		$ 616,000
Commercial Paper program limit			1,500,000		1,500,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding			$ 578,000		$ 578,000
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate			1.14%		1.14%
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate			2.35%		2.35%
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			$ 250,000		$ 250,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity			50.00%		50.00%
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Three Point Five Percent Series First Mortgage Bonds Due April Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				3.50%
Issuance Of Debt				$ 325,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Sixty Six Percent Series due February Two Thousand Twenty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				5.66%
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 175,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			$ 450,000		$ 450,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity			50.00%		50.00%
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Cash payment representing the purchase price to acquire the undivided interests in Waterford 3			$ 60,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Ninety Five Percent Series, Due January Two Thousand Forty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.95%		4.95%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 200,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Three Point Two Five Percent Series, Due April Twenty Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.25%		3.25%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 425,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Notes, Waterford 3 Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt			$ 51,972
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Governmental Bonds, Three Point Three Seven Five Percent, Due September Twenty Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.375%		3.375%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 83,680
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Governmental Bonds, Three Point Five Zero Percent, Due June Twenty Thirty [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.50%		3.50%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 115,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit posted to cover derivative exposure			400		$ 400
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			175,000		175,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			$ 400		$ 400
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			$ 200,000		$ 200,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity			50.00%		50.00%
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Entergy Texas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Two Point Five Five Series, Due June Twenty Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.55%		2.55%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 125,000
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			200,000		$ 200,000
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility			100,000		$ 100,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					0.25%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			61,000		$ 61,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period					2.20%
Uncommitted Credit Facility			85,000		$ 85,000
Uncommitted Line of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period					2.18%
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings			$ 100,000		$ 100,000
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Five Point Five Zero Percent Series, Due April Twenty Sixty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.50%		5.50%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 110,000
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			$ 111,000		$ 111,000
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount					0.125%
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization					70.00%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Three Point Seven Eight Percent Series I Notes Due October Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.78%		3.78%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			$ 0		$ 0
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount					0.125%
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization					70.00%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.65%		3.65%
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount					0.10%
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization					70.00%
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member] | Variable Interest Entity Notes Payable Three Point Three Zero Percent Series F Due March Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.30%		3.30%
Redemption of debt instrument			$ 20,000
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			$ 77,500		$ 77,500
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member] | Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.92%		3.92%
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			$ 0		$ 0
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					0.275%
Consolidated debt ratio			65.00%		65.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					0.125%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility	[1]		$ 150,000		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			0		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			0		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period	[2]				1.68%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility	[3]		150,000		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			1,300		1,300
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding			$ 0		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period	[2]				1.93%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pollution Control Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument		$ 198,680

[1] The credit facility allows Entergy Arkansas to issue letters of credit against 50% of the borrowing capacity of the facility.

[2] The interest rate is the rate as of March 31, 2016 that would most likely apply to outstanding borrowings under the facility.

[3] The credit facility allows Entergy Texas to issue letters of credit against 50% of the borrowing capacity of the facility.