Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2017		Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,668,770	$ 2,618,550	$ 5,392,650		$ 5,207,008
Income taxes (benefits)	(280,596)	(337,112)	(236,933)		(329,350)
Consolidated net income	248,860	413,368	385,059	[1]	499,420	[1]
Assets	47,622,649		47,622,649				$ 46,707,149
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,360,208	2,301,332	4,665,197		4,336,444
Income taxes (benefits)	(240,324)	130,851	(188,100)		229,343
Consolidated net income	378,394	246,382	596,333		414,005
Assets	44,117,784		44,117,784				42,978,669
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	308,602	317,255	727,526		870,622
Income taxes (benefits)	(30,144)	(454,944)	(31,222)		(533,281)
Consolidated net income	(56,337)	223,886	(74,116)		196,689
Assets	5,433,618		5,433,618				5,638,009
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	0	0	0		0
Income taxes (benefits)	(10,128)	(13,019)	(17,611)		(25,412)
Consolidated net income	(41,299)	(25,001)	(73,361)		(47,477)
Assets	1,240,106		1,240,106				1,011,612
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(40)	(37)	(73)		(58)
Income taxes (benefits)	0	0	0		0
Consolidated net income	(31,898)	$ (31,899)	(63,797)		$ (63,797)
Assets	$ (3,168,859)		$ (3,168,859)				$ (2,921,141)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2018 and 2017 include $6.9 million and $6.9 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.