Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended										9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	May 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 3,500,000									$ 3,500,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%									50.00%
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage											0.225%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 180,000									$ 180,000
Commercial Paper program limit		1,500,000									1,500,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding		$ 264,000									$ 264,000
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		1.14%									1.14%
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		2.24%									2.24%
Senior Secured Notes, Two Point Nine Five Percent Series Due September Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.95%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 750,000
Senior Secured Notes, Four Point Seven Percent Series Due January Two Thousand Seventeen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.70%
Anticipated redemption of debt instrument			$ 500,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 250,000									$ 250,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%									50.00%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Preferred Stock Cumulative One Hundred Dollar Par Value Six Point Zero Eight Percent Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of Preferred Equity		$ 10,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage		6.08%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Preferred Stock Cumulative Twenty Five Dollar Par Value Six Point Four Five Percent Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of Preferred Equity		$ 75,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage		6.45%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Three Eight Percent Series Due November Twenty Thirty Four [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				6.38%
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 60,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Sixty Six Percent Series due February Two Thousand Twenty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage									5.66%
Redemption of debt instrument									$ 175,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Eight Seven Five Percent Series, Due September Two Thousand Sixty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.875%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 410,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Seven Five Percent Series Due November Twenty Forty [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.75%
Redemption of debt instrument			$ 225,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Nine Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Thirty Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.90%
Redemption of debt instrument			$ 100,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Three Point Five Percent Series First Mortgage Bonds Due April Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					3.50%					3.50%
Issuance Of Debt					$ 55,000					$ 325,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 450,000									$ 450,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%									50.00%
Cash payment representing the purchase price to acquire the undivided interests in Waterford 3								$ 60,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Ninety Five Percent Series, Due January Two Thousand Forty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								4.95%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 200,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Three Point Two Five Percent Series, Due April Twenty Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								3.25%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 425,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Notes, Waterford 3 Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt								$ 51,972
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Three Point Zero Five Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Thirty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						3.05%
Issuance Of Debt						$ 325,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Two Percent Series Due July Two Thousand Thirty Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					6.20%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 240,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point One Eight Percent Series Due March Two Thousand Thirty Five [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					6.18%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 85,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Eight Seven Five Percent Series, Due September Two Thousand Sixty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.875%
Issuance Of Debt			$ 270,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Zero Percent Series Due March Two Thousand Forty [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		6.00%									6.00%
Redemption of debt instrument		$ 118,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Forty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		5.875%									5.875%
Redemption of debt instrument		$ 150,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Governmental Bonds, Three Point Three Seven Five Percent, Due September Twenty Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								3.375%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 83,680
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Governmental Bonds, Three Point Five Zero Percent, Due June Twenty Thirty [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								3.50%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 115,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pollution Control Revenue Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument							$ 198,680
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 175,000									$ 175,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Two Point Eight Five Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Twenty Eight [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						2.85%
Issuance Of Debt						$ 375,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Three Point Two Five Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					3.25%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 125,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Zero Percent Series Due November Two Thousand Thirty Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					6.00%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 75,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Two Five Percent Series Due April Two Thousand Thirty Four [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					6.25%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 100,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Nine Zero Percent Series, Due October Two Thousand Sixty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		4.90%									4.90%
Issuance Of Debt		$ 260,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Governmental Bonds Four Point Nine Zero Percent Series Due Two Thousand Twenty Two Independence County [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					4.90%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 30,000
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 200,000									$ 200,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%									50.00%
Entergy Texas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Two Point Five Five Series, Due June Twenty Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								2.55%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 125,000
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 200,000									$ 200,000
System Energy [Member] | Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Governmental Bonds Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						5.875%
Redemption of debt instrument						$ 22,000
Long-term Debt, Gross						$ 156,000
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility								$ 100,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage											0.20%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		41,500									$ 41,500
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period											2.19%
Uncommitted Credit Facility		85,000									$ 85,000
Uncommitted Line of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period											2.27%
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		100,000									$ 100,000
Issuance of letters of credit, limit of total borrowing capacity		10,000									10,000
Redemption of Preferred Equity				$ 21,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Five Point Five Zero Percent Series, Due April Twenty Sixty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								5.50%
Issuance Of Debt								$ 110,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Four Percent Series Due June Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						4.00%
Issuance Of Debt						$ 85,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Six Percent Series Due September Two Thousand Twenty Four [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					5.60%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 33,271
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Five Point Six Five Percent Series Due September Two Thousand Twenty Nine [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					5.65%
Redemption of debt instrument					$ 37,772
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 80,000									$ 80,000
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount											0.10%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Three Point Seven Eight Percent Series I Notes Due October Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.78%									3.78%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 47,400									$ 47,400
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount											0.10%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Variable Interest Entity Notes Payable Three Point Two Three Percent Series J Due July Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				3.23%
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 55,000
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.65%									3.65%
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount											0.10%
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member] | Variable Interest Entity Notes Payable Three Point Three Zero Percent Series F Due March Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage								3.30%
Redemption of debt instrument								$ 20,000
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 42,000									$ 42,000
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member] | Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.92%									3.92%
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0									$ 0
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage											0.275%
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%									65.00%
Maximum [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization											70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization											70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization											70.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage											0.075%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 150,000									$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0									0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		0									$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period											1.77%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		150,000									$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		4,700									4,700
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0									$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period											2.02%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of Waterford 3 lessor debt due January 2017	$ 57,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Two Point Four Percent Series Due October Two Thousand Twenty Six [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	2.40%
Issuance Of Debt	$ 400,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Preferred Stock Cumulative Twenty Five Dollar Par Value Six Point Two Five Percent Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of Preferred Equity	$ 30,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage	6.25%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Two Percent Series Due April Two Thousand Forty [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	6.20%
Redemption of debt instrument	$ 80,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Zero Percent Series Due May Two Thousand Fifty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	6.00%
Redemption of debt instrument	$ 150,000