Asset Retirement Obligations Asset Retirement Obligations (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges		$ 1,642,204	$ 163,835	$ 1,642,204	$ 167,772
Pilgrim Decommissioning Trust Balance		5,191,092		5,191,092		$ 5,370,932
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Reduction in decommissioning liability	$ 77,600
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] | Pilgrim [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges		24,000
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges		677,000
Increase in decommissioning liability		134,000		134,000
Pilgrim Decommissioning Trust Balance		870,000		870,000
Excess financial assurance for license termination activities		240,000		240,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Vermont Yankee [Member]
NRC allowed future spent fuel management costs to be paid from Vermont Yankee decommissioning trust fund	$ 225,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member] | Fitzpatrick [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges		48,000
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
Change in Contract Amount For Decommissioning The Plants Less The Decommissioning Cost		204,000
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges		$ 965,000