Risk Management and Fair Values (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, TWh in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) GWh MMBTU	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 TWh	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) GWh MMBTU counterparty	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) counterparty
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Cash flow hedges relating to power sales as part of net unrealized gains				$ (17,000)
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) to operating revenues				(2,000)
Maturity of cash flow hedges, Tax	$ 1,000	$ 4,000		$ (6,000)	$ 22,000
Maximum length of time over which Company is currently hedging the variability in future cash flows for forecasted power transactions, years				2 years 6 months
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU	39,670,000			39,670,000
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	108,294			108,294
Change in cash flow hedges due to ineffectiveness	$ (15,000)	5,000		$ (2,000)	4,000
Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset and Liability Unrealized Gains (Loss) Included in Earnings	(800)	$ (100)		(700)	$ 300
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 600			$ 600		$ 200
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	24,646			24,646
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU	32,100,000			32,100,000
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	46,135			46,135
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 200			$ 200		100
Total volume of natural gas swaps outstanding (MMBtu) | MMBTU	7,570,000			7,570,000
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	14,368			14,368
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	5,184			5,184
Entergy Texas [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						50
Total volume of fixed transmission rights outstanding | GWh	17,512			17,512
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Cash collateral posted	$ 5,000			$ 5,000		1,000
Derivative, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash	3,000			3,000		4,000
Letters of Credit Held	3,000			$ 3,000		$ 34,000
Number of Derivative Contract Counterparties in a Liability Position | counterparty				7		8
Dollar amount of hedge contract in a liability position	30,000			$ 30,000		$ 65,000
Utility [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 1,000			$ 1,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Risk Management and Fair Values [Abstract]
Planned generation sold forward from non utility nuclear power plants for the remainder of the period			98.00%
Planned Generation From Non Nuclear Power Plants Sold Forward Under Financial Hedges			82.00%
Total planned generation for remainder of the period | TWh			14.1