Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	$ 26,251	$ 29,414
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax		(1,045)
Amortization of loss	(86,002)	(60,693)
Settlement loss	(7,544)	(2,007)
Total	(67,295)	(34,331)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(261)	(1,079)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax		(1,045)
Amortization of loss	(73,800)	(49,930)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	(74,061)	(52,054)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	26,867	30,949
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax		0
Amortization of loss	(8,805)	(8,248)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	18,062	22,701
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(355)	(456)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax		0
Amortization of loss	(3,397)	(2,515)
Settlement loss	(7,544)	(2,007)
Total	(11,296)	(4,978)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,734	7,786
Amortization of loss	(5,327)	(6,281)
Total	2,407	1,505
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0
Amortization of loss	(3,459)	(3,345)
Total	(3,459)	(3,345)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,735	7,787
Amortization of loss	(1,859)	(2,926)
Total	5,876	4,861
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1)	(1)
Amortization of loss	(9)	(10)
Total	$ (10)	$ (11)