Leases Purchase Power Agreement Minimum Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Current Year, Operating Leases	$ 80,368
Year Two, Operating Leases	82,516
Year Three, Operating Leases	67,385
Year Four, Operating Leases	58,507
Year Five, Operating Leases	43,760
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	96,550
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	429,086
Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	30,458
Year Two, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Three, Operating Leases	31,876
Year Four, Operating Leases	32,609
Year Five, Operating Leases	10,180
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	0
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	136,282
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	21,814
Year Two, Operating Leases	22,875
Year Three, Operating Leases	17,790
Year Four, Operating Leases	13,762
Year Five, Operating Leases	10,067
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	19,443
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	105,751
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	3,469
Year Two, Operating Leases	2,893
Year Three, Operating Leases	1,934
Year Four, Operating Leases	1,299
Year Five, Operating Leases	862
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	2,173
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	12,630
Entergy Texas [Member] | Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	30,458
Year Two, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Three, Operating Leases	31,876
Year Four, Operating Leases	32,609
Year Five, Operating Leases	10,180
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	0
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	$ 136,282