Common Equity (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) plan $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares
Number of equity ownership plans | plan		3
Authorization of repurchase of common stock	$ 500,000	$ 350,000
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared | $ / shares		$ 3.42	$ 3.34	$ 3.32
Dividend payments received from subsidiaries		$ 165,000	$ 615,000	$ 893,000
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ (611,835)	598,897	596,117
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash				10,000
Ratio of Common Stock Equity to Total Capitalization Which Could Result In Restriction of Dividends		25.00%
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 24,000	40,000	61,400
Ratio of Common Stock Equity to Total Capitalization Which Could Result In Restriction of Dividends		25.00%
System Energy [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 139,000	200,750	101,930
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 18,720	7,250	6,000
Ratio of Common Stock Equity to Total Capitalization Which Could Result In Restriction of Dividends		25.00%
Common Stock [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 0	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash				0
Common Stock [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		0	0	0
Common Stock [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		40,000	70,000	0
Common Stock [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0