Property, Plant, And Equipment (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			$ 175,800		$ 175,800		$ 234,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use					33,170	$ 1,642,204
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges			18,841	$ 1,642,204	33,170	$ 1,642,204
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			21,700		21,700		43,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			75,500		75,500		68,600
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		$ 16,000
Cash payment representing the purchase price to acquire the undivided interests in Waterford 3	$ 60,000
Portion of Waterford 3 purchase price satisfied through issuance of debt	$ 52,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			4,500		4,500		11,400
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			1,000		1,000		1,500
Entergy Texas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			8,000		8,000		33,100
System Energy [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable			$ 12,700		$ 12,700		$ 6,800