Property, Plant, And Equipment (Narrative) (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
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	$ 143,000		$ 143,000		$ 209,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use			1,642,204	$ 106,915
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges	1,642,204	$ 163,835	1,642,204	$ 167,772
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	19,900		19,900		37,300
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	17,400		17,400		48,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	4,800		4,800		7,800
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	2,700		2,700		900
Entergy Texas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	16,100		16,100		24,100
System Energy [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable	10,700		10,700		$ 7,700
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Present Value Of The Difference Between The Stipulated Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost	335,000		335,000
Present Value Of The Difference Between The Stipulated Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost After Impairment	131,000		131,000
Change in Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost	204,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Fitzpatrick [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges	48,000
After-Tax Asset Impairment Charge	624,000
Estimated Fair Value of Nuclear Plant	29,000		29,000
Carrying Value of Nuclear Plant	742,000		742,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	713,000
Present Value Of The Difference Between The Stipulated Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost	335,000		335,000
Present Value Of The Difference Between The Stipulated Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost After Impairment	131,000		131,000
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges	965,000
Change in Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost	204,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Pilgrim [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges	24,000
After-Tax Asset Impairment Charge	438,000
Estimated Fair Value of Nuclear Plant	65,000		65,000
Carrying Value of Nuclear Plant	718,000		718,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	653,000
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges	677,000
Increase Decrease In Decommissioning Liability, Asset Retirement Obligation	134,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Fitzpatrick And Pilgrim [Member]
After-Tax Asset Impairment Charge	1,062,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$ 1,642,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Fitzpatrick And Pilgrim [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Severance and Employee Retention Costs			$ 175,000