Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 3,500,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.225%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 225,000
Commercial Paper program limit		1,500,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding		$ 1,100,000
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		1.33%
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		2.29%
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 250,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 200	$ 300
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 450,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 175,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		100	$ 100
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 200,000
Issuance of letters of credit, percentage of total borrowing capacity		50.00%
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 200,000
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 100,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.20%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 58,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.32%
Uncommitted Credit Facility		$ 85,000
Uncommitted Line of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period		2.48%
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 100,000
Issuance of letters of credit, limit of total borrowing capacity		10,000
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 110,700
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Three Point Seven Eight Percent Series I Notes Due October Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.78%
System Energy VIE [Member] | Four Point Zero Two Percent Series H Notes [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.02%
Redemption of debt instrument	$ 50,000
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 52,300
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.65%
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 72,500
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member] | Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.92%
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 18,800
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.275%
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		65.00%
Maximum [Member] | System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.075%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.23%
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		4,700
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.48%