Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Subsidiaries Preferred Stock [Member]	Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Subsidiaries Preferred Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Noncontrolling Interest	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member]	System Energy [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 10,961,142	$ 35,000	$ 6,549,923	$ 9,897,182	$ (449,207)	$ 2,700	$ (5,074,456)	$ 2,157,578	$ 35,000	$ 955,162	$ 1,117,964	$ 49,452	$ 1,672,734	$ 3,276,169	$ 3,276,169	$ 0	$ 7,457,688	$ 7,453,361	$ 4,327	$ 606,917	$ 1,080,546	$ 128,696	$ 951,850
Consolidated net income	339,145	4,580	0	334,565	0	0	0	50,058	0	0	50,058	0	25,972	93,037	93,037	0	166,626	166,626	0	1,771	23,864	23,864	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(190,595)	0	0	(190,595)	0	0	0														(21,000)	(21,000)	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(4,580)	(4,580)	0	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(51,300)	0	0	0	(51,300)	0	0										(407)	0	(407)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	1,636	0	29,871	0	0	0	(28,235)
Other																	(16)	(16)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Preferred Unit Holders	4,580							470						0
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ 4,000							470	0	0	470	0
Common stock dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 0.95
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,052,176	35,000	6,520,052	10,041,152	(500,507)	2,700	(5,046,221)	2,207,166	35,000	955,162	1,167,552	49,452	1,698,706	3,369,206	3,369,206	0	7,623,891	7,619,971	3,920	608,688	1,083,410	131,560	951,850
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	11,705,394	68,110	6,766,239	10,240,552	(332,528)	2,720	(5,039,699)	2,483,206	38,750	1,050,125	1,344,879	49,452	1,839,568	3,575,855	3,542,745	33,110	8,180,572	8,172,294	8,278	638,715	1,091,360	139,510	951,850
Consolidated net income	279,593	3,193	0	276,400	0	0	0	50,403	0	0	50,403	0	30,355	65,567	66,954	(1,387)	150,860	150,860	0	15,126	31,432	31,432	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(205,058)	0	0	(205,058)	0	0	0										(125,000)	(125,000)	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(4,580)	(4,580)	0	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,050)	0	0	0	(4,050)	0	0										(613)	0	(613)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	(5,527)	0	31,085	0	0	0	(36,612)
Other																	(13)	(13)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Preferred Unit Holders	3,193							518						(1,387)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ 4,000							518	0	0	518	0
Common stock dividend (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,776,826	$ 66,723	$ 6,735,154	$ 10,311,894	$ (336,578)	$ 2,720	$ (5,003,087)	$ 2,533,091	$ 38,750	$ 1,050,125	$ 1,394,764	$ 49,452	$ 1,869,923	$ 3,641,422	$ 3,609,699	$ 31,723	$ 8,205,806	$ 8,198,141	$ 7,665	$ 653,841	$ 1,122,792	$ 170,942	$ 951,850