Leases (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1988 transaction	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1989 USD ($) transaction	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2010 USD ($)
Rent expense			$ 63,900	$ 59,000	$ 63,700
Net regulatory liability related to sale and leaseback transaction							$ 107,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Rent expense			13,600	12,000	12,000
Payments For Railcar Operating Lease			4,700	4,800	8,600
Value of non interest bearing first mortgage bonds								$ 124,100
Regulatory Asset			$ 85,700	59,000
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement			17.10%
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Year Two			$ 106,335
Rent expense			21,800	20,700	21,000
Payments For Railcar Operating Lease			1,100	1,700	2,200
Net regulatory liability related to sale and leaseback transaction			$ 68,300	$ 82,600
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement			26.90%
Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Purchased Under Purchased Power Agreement			50.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Waterford 3 [Member]
Portion of Waterford 3 purchase price to be satisfied through issuance of debt			$ 52,000
Number of sale leaseback transactions | transaction						3
Sale and lease back transaction amount						$ 353,600
Anticipated Purchase Price of Waterford 3			112,000
Expiration period of sale and lease back transaction				2017-07
Value of non interest bearing first mortgage bonds			$ 193,200
Minimum percentage of adjusted capitalization to be maintained as total equity capital			30.00%
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio to be maintained			1.50
Rolling period of fixed charge coverage ratio			12 months
Implicit rate of future minimum lease payments			7.45%
Cash payment representing the purchase price to acquire the undivided interests in Waterford 3			$ 60,000
Liability related to undivided interests in Waterford 3			62,700
Reduction in liability related to undivided interest in Waterford 3			2,700
Lease Payments Sale Leaseback Transactions Due July 2016			7,800
Reduced liability related to undivided interests in Waterford 3			60,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Rent expense			5,400	$ 4,300	4,600
Regulatory Asset			$ 77,500	76,300
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement			31.30%
Oil Tank Facilities Lease Payments			$ 1,600	1,600	3,400
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Rent expense			1,600	1,200	1,300
Regulatory Asset			$ 29,400	35,200
Purchased Percentage Of Capacity And Energy Based On Agreement			24.70%
Entergy Texas [Member]
Rent expense			$ 4,000	3,800	4,100
Regulatory Asset			25,800	18,900
Capacity expense under purchase power agreements accounted for as operating leases			$ 29,900	29,200	28,600
Percent of minimum payments			100.00%
System Energy [Member]
Rent expense			$ 2,900	2,000	$ 2,500
Regulatory Asset			54,800	$ 55,700
System Energy [Member] | Grand Gulf [Member]
Number of sale leaseback transactions | transaction		2
Sale and lease back transaction amount			$ 500,000
Expiration period of sale and lease back transaction				2015-07
Implicit rate of future minimum lease payments			5.13%
Regulatory Asset			$ 0
Net regulatory liability related to sale and leaseback transaction			$ 55,600	$ 62,900
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Waterford 3 [Member]
Lease Payments Sale Leaseback Transactions	$ 9,200