Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details)	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1988 transaction	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) program claim plaintiff reactor policy MW	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from insurance					$ 24,399,000	$ 40,670,000	$ 0
Number of financial protection programs | program					2
Insurance coverage for public liability by American Nuclear Insurers					$ 375,000,000
Maximum retrospective insurance premium obligation per reactor per incident					127,300,000
Maximum total contingent obligation per incident					1,400,000,000
Maximum retrospective insurance premium obligation excluding surcharge per reactor per incident					$ 121,300,000
Surcharge on maximum retrospective premium					5.00%
Rate of maximum retrospective premium per year per nuclear power reactor					$ 19,000,000
ANI combined with Secondary Financial Protection Coverage					13,500,000,000
Additional damage coverage for a terrorist event					$ 100,000,000,000
Number of nuclear reactor included in the Secondary Financial Protection program | reactor					103
Total premium for reactor under secondary financial protection program					$ 13,100,000,000
Ownership percentage by a non-affiliated company					10.00%
Property insurance minimum requirement per site for nuclear power plant licensees					$ 1,060,000,000
Maximum recovery nuclear insurance policies for property damage caused by Terrorist Act					3,240,000,000
Minimum value of power plants, substations to be covered under conventional property insurance					5,000,000
Purchase of terrorism insurance coverage					300,000,000
Amount of additional insurance coverage per occurrence					20,000,000
Value of properties that do not qualify for low deductible					$ 20,000,000
Damages claim filed in demand for arbitration		$ 165,000,000
Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Capacity Supply Obligations in ISO New England | MW					677
Waterford 3 [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Weekly indemnity					$ 2,950,000
Waiting period					182 days
Grand Gulf [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Weekly indemnity					$ 400,000
Number of insurance policies | policy					4
Waiting period					182 days
Fitzpatrick And Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Weekly indemnity					$ 4,000,000
Waiting period					84 days
Indian Point 2 Indian Point 3 And Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Weekly indemnity					$ 4,500,000
Waiting period					84 days
Operational Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum conventional property insurance coverage on an each and every loss basis					$ 400,000,000
Natural Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum conventional property insurance coverage on an each and every loss basis					400,000,000
All Other Natural Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum conventional property insurance coverage on an each and every loss basis					400,000,000
Flooding Or Property Value Greater Than 20 Million [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deductible after additional coverage purchased					500,000
Accidental Outage Coverage Program [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					327,600,000
Accidental Outage Coverage Program [Member] | Grand Gulf [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					327,600,000
Flood and Earthquake [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Primary Insurance Layer Conditions Of Coverage					500,000,000
Flood [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Primary Insurance Layer Conditions Of Coverage					500,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deductible after additional coverage purchased					100,000
Minimum [Member] | Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Expected NRC inspection costs					45,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deductible after additional coverage purchased					250,000
Maximum [Member] | Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Expected NRC inspection costs					$ 60,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Expected NRC inspection costs								$ 30,000,000
First Payment Period [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Accidental Outage Coverage Weekly Indemnity Payment Period					364 days
Percentage of Weekly Indemnity Paid After Deductible Period has Passed					100.00%
Second Payment Period [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Accidental Outage Coverage Weekly Indemnity Payment Period					364 days
Percentage of Weekly Indemnity Paid After Deductible Period has Passed					80.00%
Final Payment Period [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Accidental Outage Coverage Weekly Indemnity Payment Period					406 days
Percentage of Weekly Indemnity Paid After Deductible Period has Passed					80.00%
Nuclear [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deductible after additional coverage purchased					$ 2,500,000
Utility Plants [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,600,000,000
Utility Plants [Member] | Turbine And Generator Damage [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					2,500,000
Utility Plants [Member] | Other Than Turbine And Generator Damage [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					2,500,000
Utility Plants [Member] | Windstorm, Flood, Earthquake, Or Volcanic Eruption [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					$ 10,000,000
Additional deductible percentage					10.00%
Utility Plants [Member] | Primary Layer [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					$ 1,500,000,000
Utility Plants [Member] | Blanket Layer [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					100,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Turbine And Generator Damage [Member] | Fitzpatrick, Pilgrim, and Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					2,500,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Other Than Turbine And Generator Damage [Member] | Fitzpatrick, Pilgrim, and Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					2,500,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Windstorm, Flood, Earthquake, Or Volcanic Eruption [Member] | Fitzpatrick, Pilgrim, and Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence					$ 10,000,000
Additional deductible percentage					10.00%
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Primary Layer [Member] | Big Rock Point [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					$ 500,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Primary Layer [Member] | Indian Point [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,500,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Primary Layer [Member] | Fitzpatrick, Pilgrim, and Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,115,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Primary Layer [Member] | Vermont Yankee [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,060,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Excess Layer [Member] | Indian Point [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					100,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Blanket Layer [Member] | Big Rock Point [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					500,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Blanket Layer [Member] | Indian Point [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,600,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Blanket Layer [Member] | Fitzpatrick, Pilgrim, and Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,115,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Blanket Layer [Member] | Vermont Yankee [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					1,060,000,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Accidental Outage Coverage Program [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Property Insurance insured amount per occurrence					327,600,000
Nuclear [Member] | Waterford 3 [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					413,000,000
Nuclear [Member] | Grand Gulf [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					56,000,000
Nuclear [Member] | Fitzpatrick And Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					490,000,000
Nuclear [Member] | Indian Point 2 Indian Point 3 And Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					490,000,000
Non-Nuclear [Member] | Waterford 3 [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					277,000,000
Non-Nuclear [Member] | Grand Gulf [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					37,000,000
Non-Nuclear [Member] | Fitzpatrick And Pilgrim [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					327,600,000
Non-Nuclear [Member] | Indian Point 2 Indian Point 3 And Palisades [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum indemnity					327,600,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Capital expense related to Baxter Wilson recovery						22,300,000
Operation and maintenance expense incurred for Baxter Wilson recovery						26,600,000
Insurance receivable						28,200,000
Capital expense in excess of insurance receivable						12,900,000
Operation and maintenance expense in excess of insurance receivable						15,300,000
MPSC authorized deferral of other operation and maintenance expenses	$ 6,000,000					6,000,000
Proceeds from insurance					$ 12,932,000	0	0
Property insurance deductibles per occurrence						20,000,000
Percentage of capacity and energy agreed to sell by system energy from grand gulf					33.00%
Average monthly payments under unit power sales agreement					$ 16,500,000
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement					31.30%
Amortization period of cost					27 years
Allocated amortization cost in percentage					43.97%
Entergy Texas [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of asbestos lawsuits | claim					400
Number of claimants in asbestos lawsuits | plaintiff					4,000
System Energy [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of nuclear power reactors | reactor					1
System Energy [Member] | Grand Gulf [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of sale leaseback transactions | transaction				2
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum conventional property insurance coverage on an each and every loss basis					$ 50,000,000
Number of asbestos lawsuits | claim					400
Number of claimants in asbestos lawsuits | plaintiff					4,000
Percentage of capacity and energy agreed to sell by system energy from grand gulf					17.00%
Average monthly payments under unit power sales agreement					$ 9,300,000
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement					24.70%
Amortization period of cost					27 years
Allocated amortization cost in percentage					29.80%
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Operational Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Self-insured retention per occurrence					$ 20,000,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Natural Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Self-insured retention per occurrence					40,000,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Natural Perils [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum conventional property insurance coverage on an each and every loss basis					125,000,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments made under purchased power agreement					$ 146,000,000	152,800,000	181,100,000
Required energy for the production of Vidalia project in percentage					94.00%
Estimated Payments Under Purchased Power Agreement in Next Twelve Months					$ 150,500,000
Estimated Payments Under Purchased Power Agreement in Year Two and Thereafter					1,930,000,000
Credit rates agreed by subsidiary for each year under settlement related to tax benefits from tax treatment of purchased power agreement					$ 11,000,000
Number of years for which credit rates agreed by subsidiary under settlement related to tax benefits from the tax treatment of purchased power agreement					10 years
Amount of remaining benefits of tax credit by crediting rate payers					$ 20,235,000
Maximum period up to which remaining benefit of tax accounting election shared					15 years
Number of nuclear power reactors | reactor					2
Number of asbestos lawsuits | claim					400
Number of claimants in asbestos lawsuits | plaintiff					4,000
Percentage of capacity and energy agreed to sell by system energy from grand gulf					14.00%
Average monthly payments under unit power sales agreement					$ 7,700,000
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement					26.90%
Amortization period of cost					27 years
Allocated amortization cost in percentage					26.23%
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated cost to restore ANO to service					$ 95,000,000
Deferred Fuel and Purchased Energy Costs Excluded From Revised Energy Cost Rate			$ 65,900,000
Course of construction sublimit					50,000,000
Proceeds From Insurance Settlement, Operating and Investing Activities						50,000,000
Proceeds from insurance					$ 11,654,000	$ 36,600,000	$ 0
Number of nuclear power reactors | reactor					2
Percentage of capacity and energy agreed to sell by system energy from grand gulf					36.00%
Average monthly payments under unit power sales agreement					$ 19,200,000
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement					17.10%
Amortization period of cost					27 years
Incremental NRC Inspection Costs					$ 53,000,000
Expected NRC inspection costs					$ 50,000,000