Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Net Periodic Pension Cost) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$ 26,915	$ 32,291	$ 45,305
Interest cost	55,838	56,331	71,934
Expected return on assets	(37,630)	(41,820)	(45,375)
Amortization of prior service credit	(41,425)	(45,490)	(37,280)
Recognized net loss	21,905	18,214	31,573
Net periodic pension costs	25,603	19,526	66,157
Prior service credit for period	(2,564)	(20,353)	(48,192)
Net loss	(66,922)	49,805	(154,339)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	41,425	45,490	37,280
Amortization of net loss	21,905	18,214	31,573
Total	(49,966)	56,728	(196,824)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(24,363)	76,254	(130,667)
Prior service cost	(37,002)	(41,425)	(45,485)
Net loss	13,729	21,905	18,214
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service credit	55,200	59,800
Net periodic pension costs	37,600	24,900	22,800
Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	133,641	143,244	175,046
Interest cost	260,824	261,613	302,777
Expected return on assets	(408,225)	(389,465)	(394,618)
Amortization of prior service credit	261	1,079	1,561
Recognized net loss	227,720	195,298	235,922
Curtailment loss	0	3,084	374
Special termination benefit	0	0	76
Net periodic pension costs	214,221	214,853	321,138
Net loss	368,067	203,229	50,762
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	(261)	(1,079)	(1,561)
Acceleration of prior service cost due to curtailment	0	(1,045)	(374)
Amortization of net loss	227,720	195,298	235,922
Total	140,086	5,807	(187,095)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	354,307	220,660	134,043
Prior service cost	398	261	1,079
Net loss	274,104	227,720	195,321
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	3,451	3,913	6,957
Interest cost	9,020	9,297	12,518
Expected return on assets	(15,836)	(17,855)	(19,190)
Amortization of prior service credit	(5,110)	(5,472)	(2,441)
Recognized net loss	4,460	4,256	5,356
Net periodic pension costs	(4,015)	(5,861)	3,200
Prior service credit for period		(1,007)	(18,035)
Net loss	(29,534)	3,331	(11,978)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	5,110	5,472	2,441
Amortization of net loss	4,460	4,256	5,356
Total	(28,884)	3,540	(32,928)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(32,899)	(2,321)	(29,728)
Prior service cost	(5,110)	(5,110)	(5,472)
Net loss	1,154	4,460	4,256
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	679	1,819	446
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	20,358	20,724	26,646
Interest cost	51,776	52,219	61,885
Expected return on assets	(81,707)	(79,087)	(80,102)
Recognized net loss	46,560	43,745	54,254
Net periodic pension costs	36,987	37,601	62,683
Net loss	51,569	60,968	16,687
Amortization of net loss	46,560	43,745	54,254
Total	5,009	17,223	(37,567)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	41,996	54,824	25,116
Net loss	53,650	46,560	43,747
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,373	7,476	9,893
Interest cost	12,101	13,041	16,311
Expected return on assets	0	0	0
Amortization of prior service credit	(7,735)	(7,787)	(7,467)
Recognized net loss	1,859	2,926	7,118
Net periodic pension costs	12,598	15,656	25,855
Prior service credit for period		(4,647)	(1,361)
Net loss	(1,256)	(13,117)	(47,043)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	7,735	7,787	7,467
Amortization of net loss	1,859	2,926	7,118
Total	4,620	(12,903)	(48,055)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	17,218	2,753	(22,200)
Prior service cost	(7,735)	(7,739)	(7,783)
Net loss	1,550	1,859	2,926
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	185	231	377
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	27,698	28,194	34,396
Interest cost	59,235	59,478	69,465
Expected return on assets	(92,067)	(88,383)	(90,803)
Recognized net loss	49,417	47,783	59,802
Net periodic pension costs	44,283	47,072	72,860
Net loss	57,510	46,742	16,618
Amortization of net loss	49,417	47,783	59,802
Total	8,093	(1,041)	(43,184)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	52,376	46,031	29,676
Net loss	57,800	49,417	47,809
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,160	1,543	2,028
Interest cost	2,759	2,835	3,436
Expected return on assets	(4,801)	(5,517)	(6,166)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,823)	(934)	(916)
Recognized net loss	1,675	893	860
Net periodic pension costs	(1,030)	(1,180)	(758)
Prior service credit for period		(6,219)	0
Net loss	506	8,715	774
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,823	934	916
Amortization of net loss	1,675	893	860
Total	654	2,537	830
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(376)	1,357	72
Prior service cost	(1,823)	(1,824)	(933)
Net loss	1,508	1,675	893
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	251	236	235
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	5,890	6,250	7,929
Interest cost	14,927	15,245	18,007
Expected return on assets	(24,526)	(23,923)	(24,420)
Recognized net loss	12,213	11,938	14,896
Net periodic pension costs	8,504	9,510	16,412
Net loss	14,681	10,942	6,329
Amortization of net loss	12,213	11,938	14,896
Total	2,468	(996)	(8,567)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	10,972	8,514	7,845
Net loss	14,438	12,213	11,938
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	567	622	818
Interest cost	1,874	1,791	2,608
Expected return on assets	(4,635)	(4,617)	(4,804)
Amortization of prior service credit	(745)	(745)	(709)
Recognized net loss	418	146	470
Net periodic pension costs	(2,521)	(2,803)	(1,617)
Prior service credit for period		0	0
Net loss	(7,342)	5,717	(5,810)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	745	745	709
Amortization of net loss	418	146	470
Total	(7,015)	6,316	(5,571)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(9,536)	3,513	(7,188)
Prior service cost	(745)	(745)	(745)
Net loss	137	418	146
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	73	65	64
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	2,500	2,625	3,395
Interest cost	7,163	7,256	8,432
Expected return on assets	(11,199)	(10,748)	(10,899)
Recognized net loss	6,632	6,460	8,053
Net periodic pension costs	5,096	5,593	8,981
Net loss	8,601	5,463	1,853
Amortization of net loss	6,632	6,460	8,053
Total	1,969	(997)	(6,200)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	7,065	4,596	2,781
Net loss	7,816	6,632	6,460
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,488	1,590	2,000
Interest cost	4,494	4,154	5,366
Expected return on assets	(8,720)	(9,575)	(10,351)
Amortization of prior service credit	(2,316)	(2,722)	(2,723)
Recognized net loss	3,303	2,148	2,740
Net periodic pension costs	(1,751)	(4,405)	(2,968)
Prior service credit for period		0	0
Net loss	(22,255)	13,378	(4,907)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,316	2,722	2,723
Amortization of net loss	3,303	2,148	2,740
Total	(23,242)	13,952	(4,924)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(24,993)	9,547	(7,892)
Prior service cost	(2,316)	(2,316)	(2,722)
Net loss	823	3,303	2,148
Entergy Texas [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic pension costs	499	504	595
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	5,455	5,664	6,582
Interest cost	13,569	14,228	17,414
Expected return on assets	(24,722)	(24,248)	(24,887)
Recognized net loss	9,241	9,358	12,950
Net periodic pension costs	3,543	5,002	12,059
Net loss	1,109	3,816	(4,488)
Amortization of net loss	9,241	9,358	12,950
Total	(8,132)	(5,542)	(17,438)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(4,589)	(540)	(5,379)
Net loss	10,503	9,241	9,358
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	1,278	1,337	1,881
Interest cost	2,236	2,117	2,511
Expected return on assets	(2,869)	(3,257)	(3,644)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,513)	(1,570)	(1,465)
Recognized net loss	1,560	1,149	1,198
Net periodic pension costs	692	(224)	481
Prior service credit for period		0	(644)
Net loss	(5,459)	4,997	305
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,513	1,570	1,465
Amortization of net loss	1,560	1,149	1,198
Total	(5,506)	5,418	(72)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	(4,814)	5,194	409
Prior service cost	(1,513)	(1,513)	(1,570)
Net loss	932	1,560	1,149
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	6,145	6,263	7,827
Interest cost	12,364	11,966	13,970
Expected return on assets	(18,650)	(17,836)	(18,271)
Recognized net loss	11,857	10,415	13,055
Net periodic pension costs	11,716	10,808	16,581
Net loss	27,733	20,805	101
Amortization of net loss	11,857	10,415	13,055
Total	15,876	10,390	(12,954)
Total recognized as net periodic benefit cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	27,592	21,198	3,627
Net loss	$ 14,859	$ 11,857	$ 10,414