Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues	$ 2,831,318	$ 3,458,110	$ 2,996,650	$ 3,208,843	$ 2,691,906	$ 3,351,959	$ 2,738,208	$ 2,608,874	$ 12,494,921		$ 11,390,947		$ 10,302,079
Operating income (loss)	319,674	492,859	454,477	739,877	225,548	388,894	346,512	394,045	2,006,889		1,354,999		1,301,181
Consolidated net income	125,006	234,916	194,281	406,053	151,353	244,182	168,055	166,982	960,257	[1]	730,572	[1]	868,363	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation	120,127	230,037	189,383	401,174	146,929	239,850	163,723	161,400	940,721		711,902		846,673
Basic earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.67	$ 1.28	$ 1.06	$ 2.24	$ 0.82	$ 1.35	$ 0.92	$ 0.91	$ 5.24		$ 3.99		$ 4.77
Diluted earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.66	$ 1.27	$ 1.05	$ 2.24	$ 0.82	$ 1.34	$ 0.92	$ 0.90	$ 5.22		$ 3.99		$ 4.76
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Operating revenues	518,735	627,153	511,522	514,981	491,443	647,671	508,653	542,392
Operating income (loss)	19,317	115,357	68,970	66,360	23,123	157,681	80,942	43,314	270,004		305,060		307,384
Consolidated net income	1,037	62,980	29,005	28,370	24,169	82,577	40,483	14,719	121,392		161,948		152,365
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									114,519		155,075		145,492
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	(682)	61,262	27,287	26,652	22,450	80,859	38,765	13,001
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Operating revenues	473,104	610,493	554,034	513,295	470,486	558,331	492,361	419,955	2,150,926		1,941,133		1,654,894
Operating income (loss)	43,766	96,698	70,350	82,576	56,114	85,284	53,856	52,083	293,390		247,337		248,962
Consolidated net income	24,313	55,535	36,171	46,472	42,135	62,642	29,720	27,165	162,491		161,662		158,977
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									161,664		160,837		158,152
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	24,107	55,329	35,962	46,266	41,928	62,436	29,514	26,959
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Operating revenues	595,798	870,181	736,408	623,494	602,256	782,789	635,805	606,085
Operating income (loss)	38,615	160,595	100,176	85,057	56,128	145,847	88,691	64,728	384,443		355,394		149,011
Consolidated net income	31,665	123,821	69,667	58,378	45,114	100,597	61,377	45,376	283,531		252,464		281,081
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									276,562		245,514		274,131
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	29,929	122,083	67,910	56,640	43,378	98,859	59,639	43,638
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Operating revenues	380,018	425,341	370,638	348,196	319,027	397,833	326,039	291,641
Operating income (loss)	61,162	9,403	59,063	57,132	36,112	70,186	46,809	37,123	186,760		190,230		160,515
Consolidated net income	28,882	(6,464)	26,564	25,839	15,458	33,813	18,954	13,934	74,821		82,159		46,768
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									71,993		79,331		43,940
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	28,175	(7,171)	25,857	25,132	14,751	33,106	18,247	13,227
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Operating revenues	150,558	182,971	169,989	186,567	152,208	178,641	142,841	146,466	690,085		620,156		569,740
Operating income (loss)	(539)	24,866	12,862	15,281	3,070	15,895	3,627	4,272	52,470		26,864		35,890
Consolidated net income	107	13,932	6,374	8,294	1,692	8,086	598	1,307	28,707		11,683		17,065
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									27,742		10,718		16,100
Earnings (loss) applicable to common equity	(135)	13,691	6,133	8,053	1,450	7,845	357	1,066
Entergy Texas [Member]
Operating revenues	400,286	528,508	482,932	440,256	440,548	526,978	455,100	306,173
Operating income (loss)	29,590	82,911	53,158	43,056	30,071	79,430	38,355	26,277	208,715		174,133		169,813
Consolidated net income	3,495	39,559	18,585	13,165	10,205	35,801	10,953	922	74,804		57,881		41,971
System Energy [Member]
Operating revenues	170,716	172,151	163,830	157,667	201,655	192,679	172,177	168,578
Operating income (loss)	54,056	58,484	56,547	52,029	47,367	52,029	51,632	52,052	221,116		203,080		191,411
Consolidated net income	$ 19,054	$ 26,730	$ 25,931	$ 24,619	$ 22,819	$ 35,105	$ 27,734	$ 28,006	$ 96,334		$ 113,664		$ 111,866

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2014, 2013, and 2012 include $12.9 million, $12 million, and $15 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented as equity.