Income Taxes Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent	$ 1,485,402	$ 1,485,402	$ 1,414,898
Income tax benefit resulting from 2010-2011 IRS audit associated with Act 55 financing	63,500
Reduction in income tax expense related to permanent difference for nuclear decommissioning liability, net of unrecognized tax benefits		238,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent	266,938	266,938	242,913
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent	848,739	848,739	818,623
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	564,700	564,700	796,900
Income tax benefit resulting from 2010-2011 IRS audit associated with Act 55 financing	61,600
Income tax benefit resulting from 2010-2011 IRS audit related to Vidalia purchased power agreement	74,500
Regulatory liability for customer savings associated with Act 55 financing	16,100	16,100
Regulatory liability for customer savings associated with Act 55 financing, net of tax	9,900	9,900
Proceeds received from the LURC related to Act 55 financing of storm costs	148,600
System Energy [Member]
Regulatory Liability, Noncurrent	$ 353,331	$ 353,331	$ 337,424