Property, Plant, And Equipment (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		$ 138,000		$ 138,000		$ 234,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use				14,329	$ 0
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges		6,969	$ 0	14,329	$ 0
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		20,400		20,400		43,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		43,300		43,300		68,600
Cash payment representing the purchase price to acquire the undivided interests in Waterford 3	$ 60,000
Portion of Waterford 3 purchase price satisfied through issuance of debt	$ 52,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		2,300		2,300		11,400
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		200		200		1,500
Entergy Texas [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		11,500		11,500		33,100
System Energy [Member]
Construction expenditures in accounts payable		$ 11,800		$ 11,800		$ 6,800