Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 3,371,406	$ 3,458,110	$ 9,004,728		$ 9,663,603
Income taxes (benefits)	(367,665)	161,765	(117,412)		507,474
Consolidated net income (loss)	(718,233)	234,916	(261,583)	[1]	835,250	[1]
Assets	45,041,605		45,041,605				$ 46,527,854
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,849,681	2,852,088	7,401,136		7,566,187
Income taxes (benefits)	198,945	172,188	407,993		410,135
Consolidated net income (loss)	364,265	315,263	796,051		732,838
Assets	38,739,748		38,739,748				38,295,309
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	521,746	605,740	1,603,643		2,095,752
Income taxes (benefits)	(554,513)	2,303	(487,622)		140,777
Consolidated net income (loss)	(1,031,410)	(32,678)	(911,524)		236,255
Assets	8,309,720		8,309,720				10,279,500
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	0	275	0		1,765
Income taxes (benefits)	(12,097)	(12,726)	(37,783)		(43,438)
Consolidated net income (loss)	(19,190)	(14,793)	(50,415)		(47,869)
Assets	843,492		843,492				799,210
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(21)	7	(51)		(101)
Income taxes (benefits)	0	0	0		0
Consolidated net income (loss)	(31,898)	$ (32,876)	(95,695)		$ (85,974)
Assets	$ (2,851,355)		$ (2,851,355)				$ (2,846,165)

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2015 and 2014 include $9.6 million and $9.7 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.