Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		$ 1,946,677				$ 1,946,677	$ 1,578,308
Amount of Facility		3,500,000				3,500,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		20,000				$ 20,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage						0.225%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		630,000				$ 630,000
Commercial Paper program limit		2,000,000				2,000,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding		$ 1,947,000				$ 1,947,000
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		2.42%				2.42%
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.46%
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		$ 0				$ 0	49,974
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		250,000				250,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		5,000				5,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		1,000				1,000	200
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Four Point Zero Percent Series Due June 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt				$ 250,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.00%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Preferred Stock 4.72% Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 9,350
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.72%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Preferred Stock 4.32% Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 7,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.32%
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Preferred Stock 4.56% Series [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 15,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				4.56%
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		0				0	43,540
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		450,000				450,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		15,000				15,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, Four Point Zero Zero Percent due March Twenty Thirty Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt					$ 750,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					4.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds Six Point Zero Percent Series Due May Twenty Eighteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument				$ 375,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				6.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, 4.20% Series Due September 2048 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt			$ 600,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.20%
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, 6.5% Series Due September 2018 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument			$ 300,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			6.50%
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		175,000				175,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		200				200	100
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		200,000				200,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		30,000				30,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		3,600				3,600	50
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings		0				0	$ 17,830
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		200,000				200,000
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		145,000				$ 145,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage						0.20%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		132,000				$ 132,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.37%
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		150,000				$ 150,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		10,000				$ 10,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Mortgage Bonds, 4.51% Series Due September 2033 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt		$ 60,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		4.51%				4.51%
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 37,700				$ 37,700
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.18%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount						0.10%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Three Point Seven Eight Percent Series I Notes Due October Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.78%				3.78%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Three Point Four Two Percent Series J Notes Due April Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuance Of Debt					$ 100,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.42%			3.42%	3.42%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 70,400				$ 70,400
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.18%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount						0.10%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.65%				3.65%
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 30,500				$ 30,500
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.18%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount						0.10%
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member] | Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.92%				3.92%
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 34,500				$ 34,500
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.18%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount						0.10%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage						0.275%
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization						70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization						70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Maximum [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization						70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65				0.65
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage						0.075%
Credit Facility Of Three Hundred Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 350,000			$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0				0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		0				$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.49%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		150,000				$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0				0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		0				$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.49%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		150,000				$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		1,300				1,300
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0				$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period						3.74%
Subsequent Event [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member] | 3.78% Series I Notes Due October 2018 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption of debt instrument	$ 85,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.78%