Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Amounts Recorded On The Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current liabilities	$ (71,612)	$ (76,942)
Non-current liabilities	(2,910,654)	(3,036,010)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(353,274)	(424,234)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(748,384)	(780,278)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(101,498)	(109,551)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(20,755)	(36,750)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(17,853)	(67,313)
System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(121,874)	(117,850)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Employee contributions	40	23
Non-current liabilities	(1,915,771)	(1,971,365)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	668,164	619,935
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(375,088)	(412,718)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(419,959)	(455,086)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(96,707)	(104,852)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(52,149)	(54,976)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(47,197)	(68,790)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(109,617)	(100,237)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Current liabilities	(26,400)	(31,700)
Non-current liabilities	(136,000)	(137,600)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	35,900	31,600
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Current liabilities	(376)	(242)
Non-current liabilities	(3,845)	(3,655)
Total funded status	(4,221)	(3,897)
Regulatory Asset	2,995	2,914
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(231)	(233)
Non-current liabilities	(1,830)	(1,901)
Total funded status	(2,061)	(2,134)
Regulatory Asset	166	175
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	11	13
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current liabilities	(135)	(137)
Non-current liabilities	(2,603)	(2,159)
Total funded status	(2,738)	(2,296)
Regulatory Asset	1,186	876
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current liabilities	(21)	(20)
Non-current liabilities	(562)	(495)
Total funded status	(583)	(515)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities	(140)	(148)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(788)	(773)
Non-current liabilities	(8,125)	(7,892)
Total funded status	(8,913)	(8,665)
Regulatory Asset	133
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities		(316)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$ 0	$ 0