Income Taxes (Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	$ 4,593,224		$ 4,170,403		$ 4,387,780
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	348,543		162,338		163,612
Additions for tax positions of prior years	11,637		410,108		1,517,797
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(213,401)		(103,360)		(476,873)
Settlements	0		(43,620)		(1,421,913)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(3,218)		(2,645)		0
Gross balance at December 31	4,736,785		4,593,224		4,170,403
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(4,295,643)		(4,400,498)		(4,022,535)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	441,142	[1]	192,726	[1]	147,868	[1]
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	347,713		344,669		335,493
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	14,511		6,427		10,409
Additions for tax positions of prior years	1,767		1,228		429,232
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(1,079)		(3,943)		(39,534)
Settlements	0		(668)		(390,931)
Gross balance at December 31	362,912		347,713		344,669
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(361,043)		(345,674)		(342,127)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	1,869		2,039		2,542
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	465,075		465,721		390,493
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	55,053		7,276		8,974
Additions for tax positions of prior years	5,204		7,189		392,548
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(7,995)		(15,045)		(50,518)
Settlements	0		(66)		(275,776)
Gross balance at December 31	517,337		465,075		465,721
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(89,448)		(136,151)		(160,955)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	427,889		328,924		304,766
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	611,605		536,673		446,187
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	96,196		10,611		67,721
Additions for tax positions of prior years	1,720		118,025		331,432
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(20,929)		(38,428)		(169,465)
Settlements	0		(15,276)		(139,202)
Gross balance at December 31	688,592		611,605		536,673
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(650,540)		(611,605)		(536,673)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	38,052		0		0
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	16,186		16,841		11,052
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	3,928		957		8,401
Additions for tax positions of prior years	319		401		4,057
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(289)		(1,941)		(5,703)
Settlements	0		(72)		(966)
Gross balance at December 31	20,144		16,186		16,841
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(6,992)		(16,186)		(16,841)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	13,152		0		0
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	51,679		52,018		56,052
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,235		583		497
Additions for tax positions of prior years	37		3,506		445
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(188)		(962)		(2,506)
Settlements	0		(3,466)		(2,470)
Gross balance at December 31	53,763		51,679		52,018
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(20,735)		(22,078)		(35,511)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	33,028		29,601		16,507
Entergy Texas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	13,017		13,954		19,225
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	4,225		2,170		1,656
Additions for tax positions of prior years	303		587		4,834
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(267)		(4,186)		(11,649)
Settlements	(14)		492		(112)
Gross balance at December 31	17,264		13,017		13,954
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(241)		(266)		(1,593)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	17,023		12,751		12,361
System Energy [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1	265,185		260,346		281,183
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,744		4,170		8,715
Additions for tax positions of prior years	566		8,391		271,172
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(10,253)		(967)		(20,934)
Settlements	0		(6,755)		(279,790)
Gross balance at December 31	258,242		265,185		260,346
Offsets to gross unrecognized tax benefits, Credit and loss carryovers	(163,124)		(225,286)		(249,424)
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	$ 95,118		$ 39,899		$ 10,922

[1] Potential tax liability above what is payable on tax returns