Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Financial Information
Interest expense									$ 662,343		$ 666,370		$ 643,469
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									542,570		(817,259)		(642,927)
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ (475,710)	$ 401,644	$ 413,368	$ 86,051	$ (1,765,539)	$ 393,204	$ 572,590	$ 235,242	425,353	[1]	(564,503)	[1]	(156,734)	[1]
Total assets	46,707,149				45,904,434				46,707,149		45,904,434
Investment in affiliates - at equity	198				198				198		198
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									538,372		2,835,637		2,104,906
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									9,417,866		8,996,106		9,451,486
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,345,906		1,298,043		1,238,832
Interest and investment income									218,317		189,994		191,546
Interest expense									547,301		557,546		543,132
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									794,616		424,388		16,761
Consolidated net income (loss)									773,148		1,151,133		1,114,516
Total assets	42,978,669				41,098,751				42,978,669		41,098,751		38,356,906
Investment in affiliates - at equity	198				198				198		198		199
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									3,680,513		3,754,225		2,495,194
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0		0		68,672
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									1,656,730		1,849,638		2,061,827
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									448,079		374,922		376,560
Interest and investment income									224,121		108,466		148,654
Interest expense									23,714		22,858		26,788
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(146,480)		(1,192,263)		(610,339)
Consolidated net income (loss)									(172,335)		(1,493,124)		(1,065,657)
Total assets	5,638,009				6,696,038				5,638,009		6,696,038		8,210,183
Investment in affiliates - at equity	0				0				0		0		4,142
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									320,667		289,639		569,824
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									538,372		2,835,637		2,036,234
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									0		0		0
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,678		1,647		2,156
Interest and investment income									21,669		27,385		34,303
Interest expense									139,619		139,090		129,750
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(105,566)		(49,384)		(49,349)
Consolidated net income (loss)									(47,840)		(94,917)		(74,353)
Total assets	1,011,612				1,283,816				1,011,612		1,283,816		(461,505)
Investment in affiliates - at equity	0				0				0		0		0
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									438		393		236
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0		0		0
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									(115)		(99)		(62)
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									0		0		0
Interest and investment income									(175,910)		(180,718)		(187,441)
Interest expense									(48,291)		(53,124)		(56,201)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									0		0		0
Consolidated net income (loss)									(127,620)		(127,595)		(131,240)
Total assets	(2,921,141)				(3,174,171)				(2,921,141)		(3,174,171)		(1,457,903)
Investment in affiliates - at equity	0				0				0		0		0
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									0		0		0
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0		0		0
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									11,074,481		10,845,645		11,513,251
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,795,663		1,674,612		1,617,548
Interest and investment income									288,197		145,127		187,062
Interest expense									662,343		666,370		643,469
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									542,570		(817,259)		(642,927)
Consolidated net income (loss)									425,353		(564,503)		(156,734)
Total assets	46,707,149				45,904,434				46,707,149		45,904,434		44,647,681
Investment in affiliates - at equity	$ 198				$ 198				198		198		4,341
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									4,001,618		4,044,257		3,065,254
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									$ 538,372		$ 2,835,637		$ 2,104,906

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries include $13.7 million for 2017, $19.1 million for 2016, and $14.9 million for 2015 of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.