Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2015 MW	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges				$ 357,251	$ 2,835,637	$ 2,104,906
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	21.00%			35.00%
Net of tax reduction regulatory liabilities				$ 34,000
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities				2,915,795	158,031	61,241
Gain on sale of asset				16,270	0	154,037
Reduction of Income Tax Expense, Net of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Resulting From Tax Election				373,000	238,000
Tax benefit related to treatment of Vidalia purchased power agreement					75,000
Tax benefit related to treatment of proceeds received for financing of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike pursuant to Louisiana Act 55					54,000
Expense reduction due to effects of recording final court decision in several DOE spent nuclear fuel lawsuits					100,000
Expense reduction due to effects of recording final court decision in several DOE spent nuclear fuel lawsuits, net of tax					64,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	21.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities				605,453	62,351	96,234
Regulatory Liabilities				32,400	53,900		$ 16,100
Write-Off of Waterford 3 Replacement Steam Generator			$ 45,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities				1,043,507	62,994	(11,123)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities				405,395	(2,986)	9,172
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities				110,147	(3,997)	$ (7,359)
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges				538,000	2,836,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-For-Use, Net of Tax				350,000	$ 1,829,000
Reduction to income resulting from re-measurement of deferred tax asset/liability				397,000
Utility [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reduction to income resulting from re-measurement of deferred tax asset/liability				181,000
Parent & Other [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Increase in income resulting from re-measurement of deferred tax asset/liability				$ 52,000
Rhode Island State Energy Center [Member] | Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Capacity Of Power Plant Unit | MW		583