Risk Management and Fair Values (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 TWh	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) GWh MMBTU counterparty	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) counterparty	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Included in earnings		$ 900	$ 0	$ 3,000
Hedging the Variability in Future Cash Flow, Period		3 years 3 months
Cash flow hedges relating to power sales as part of net unrealized gains		$ 55,000
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) to operating revenues		(59,000)
Maturity of cash flow hedges, Tax		$ 38,000	$ 103,000	(85,000)
Number of Derivative Contract Counterparties in a Liability Position | counterparty		8	3
Change in cash flow hedges due to ineffectiveness		$ (3,000)	$ (356)	$ 150
Hedge Contracts In Liability Position		$ 65,000	8,000
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU		38,540,750
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		46,474
Cash collateral posted		$ 1,000	2,000
Derivative, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash		4,000
Letters of Credit Held		34,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Planned generation sold forward from non utility nuclear power plants	98.00%
Planned Generation Sold Forward under financial derivatives	79.00%
Total planned generation for remainder of the period | TWh	27.9
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		200	300
Letters of credit posted to cover derivative exposure		$ 200
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		10,479
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU		31,361,500
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		20,590
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 100	$ 100
Letters of credit posted to cover derivative exposure		$ 100
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU		6,714,250
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		6,391
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU		465,000
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		2,366
Entergy Texas [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of credit posted to cover derivative exposure		$ 50
Total volume of FTRs outstanding (MWh) | GWh		6,322