Income Taxes (Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	$ 2,611,585	$ 4,736,785	$ 4,593,224
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	1,532,782	1,850,705	348,543
Additions for tax positions of prior years	368,404	59,815	11,637
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(265,653)	(3,966,535)	(213,401)
Settlements	(337,263)	(68,227)	0
Lapse of statute of limitations	0	(958)	(3,218)
Gross balance at December 31	3,909,855	2,611,585	4,736,785
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	977,770	1,347,102	441,142
Remaining balances of unrecognized tax benefits, effective income tax rates	2,670,000	1,657,000	4,221,000
Net operating loss carryforwards	334,025	360,188
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	(2,922,085)	(1,264,483)	(4,295,643)
Cash Paid To Taxing Authorities	10,000	0	0
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	25,445	362,912	347,713
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	16,868	2,196	14,511
Additions for tax positions of prior years	2,463	1,057	1,767
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(41,957)	(340,720)	(1,079)
Settlements	(316)	0	0
Gross balance at December 31	2,503	25,445	362,912
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	2,503	21,832	1,869
Net operating loss carryforwards	69,524	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	0	(3,613)	(361,043)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	1,690,661	1,205,929	1,076,680
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	931,720	1,367,058	151,249
Additions for tax positions of prior years	157,586	7,992	6,924
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(144,068)	(859,430)	(28,924)
Settlements	(195,560)	(30,888)	0
Gross balance at December 31	2,440,339	1,690,661	1,205,929
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	657,246	796,897	465,941
Net operating loss carryforwards	17,125	90,241
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	(1,783,093)	(893,764)	(739,988)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	19,482	20,144	16,186
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,662	566	3,928
Additions for tax positions of prior years	336	8,140	319
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(10,219)	0	(289)
Settlements	(55)	(9,368)	0
Gross balance at December 31	12,206	19,482	20,144
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	9,833	18,466	13,152
Net operating loss carryforwards	0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	(2,373)	(1,016)	(6,992)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	53,897	53,763	51,679
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	33,912	472	2,235
Additions for tax positions of prior years	129,784	48	37
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(29,821)	(386)	(188)
Settlements	(21,542)	0	0
Gross balance at December 31	166,230	53,897	53,763
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	138,910	53,391	33,028
Net operating loss carryforwards	0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	(27,320)	(506)	(20,735)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	13,462	17,264	13,017
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,002	657	4,225
Additions for tax positions of prior years	2,888	2,914	303
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(1,849)	(3,981)	(267)
Settlements	(557)	(3,392)	(14)
Gross balance at December 31	15,946	13,462	17,264
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	15,570	13,186	17,023
Net operating loss carryforwards	0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	(376)	(276)	(241)
System Energy [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	478,318	258,242	265,185
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	5,318	472,304	2,744
Additions for tax positions of prior years	601	913	566
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(10,266)	(253,141)	(10,253)
Settlements	(1,599)	0	0
Gross balance at December 31	472,372	478,318	258,242
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	382,344	344,707	95,118
Net operating loss carryforwards	0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward	$ (90,028)	$ (133,611)	$ (163,124)