Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	$ 29,414	$ 23,920
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	(1,045)	(374)
Amortization of loss	(60,693)	(70,296)
Settlement loss	(2,007)	(1,401)
Total	(34,331)	(48,151)
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1,079)	(1,557)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	(1,045)	(374)
Amortization of loss	(49,930)	(50,508)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	(52,054)	(52,439)
Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	30,949	25,905
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	0	0
Amortization of loss	(8,248)	(17,613)
Settlement loss	0	0
Total	22,701	8,292
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(456)	(428)
Acceleration of Prior Service Cost Due to Curtailment, Before Tax	0	0
Amortization of loss	(2,515)	(2,175)
Settlement loss	(2,007)	(1,401)
Total	(4,978)	(4,004)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,786	7,464
Amortization of loss	(6,281)	(10,140)
Settlement loss		(14)
Total	1,505	(2,690)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	0	0
Amortization of loss	(3,345)	(3,003)
Settlement loss		0
Total	(3,345)	(3,003)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	7,787	7,467
Amortization of loss	(2,926)	(7,118)
Settlement loss		0
Total	4,861	349
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Amortization of prior service cost	(1)	(3)
Amortization of loss	(10)	(19)
Settlement loss		(14)
Total	$ (11)	$ (36)