Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Notes Payable By Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Consolidated Debt Ratio Of Capitalization	70.00%
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Consolidated Debt Ratio Of Capitalization	70.00%
Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Consolidated Debt Ratio Of Capitalization	70.00%
System Energy VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Consolidated Debt Ratio Of Capitalization	70.00%
Three Point Two Three Percent Series J Notes Due July Two Thousand Sixteen [Member] | Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.23%
Amount	$ 55,000,000
Two Point Six Two Percent Series K Notes Due December Two Thousand Seventeen [Member] | Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	2.62%
Amount	$ 60,000,000
Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.65%
Amount	$ 90,000,000
Three Point Two Five Percent Series Q Due July Two Thousand Seventeen [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.25%
Amount	$ 75,000,000
Three Point Three Eight Percent Series R Notes Due August Two Thousand Twenty [Member] | Entergy Gulf States Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.38%
Amount	$ 70,000,000
Three Point Three Percent Series F Note Due March Two Thousand Sixteen [Member] | Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.30%
Amount	$ 20,000,000
Three Point Two Five Percent Series G Due July Two Thousand Seventeen [Member] | Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.25%
Amount	$ 25,000,000
Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.92%
Amount	$ 40,000,000
Five Point Three Three Percent Series G Notes Due April Two Thousand Fifteen [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)		5.33%
Four Point Zero Two Percent Series H Notes Due February Two Thousand Seventeen [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	4.02%
Amount	$ 50,000,000
Three Point Seven Eight Percent Series I Notes Due October Two Thousand Eighteen [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member]
Notes payable by variable interest entities
Stated interest rate (percentage)	3.78%
Amount	$ 85,000,000