Common Equity (Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	$ (43,922)	$ 51,258	$ (12,983)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(171,850)	166,771
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	127,928	(115,513)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(34,971)	8,951	(42,307)
Cash flow hedges net unrealized gain (loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(101,977)	7,852
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(189,717)	159,592
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	87,740	(151,740)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	3,993	105,970	98,118
Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(2,842)	103,185
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	24,155	32,131
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(26,997)	71,054
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(469,446)	(466,604)	(569,789)
Net unrealized investment gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	62,177	(59,138)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(6,288)	(24,952)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	68,465	(34,186)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	429,734	367,557	426,695
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(1,280)	(641)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(1,280)	(641)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	748	2,028	2,669
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	7,970	22,811	(41,386)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(48,442)	(56,412)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	7,970	22,811
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(956)	1,631
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	8,926	21,180
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	$ (48,442)	$ (56,412)	$ (79,223)