Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		$ 2,588,458	$ 2,609,852
Income taxes (benefits)		7,763	139,945
Consolidated net income	[1]	86,051	235,242
Assets		45,318,206		$ 45,904,434
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		2,035,112	2,087,793
Income taxes (benefits)		98,492	107,836
Consolidated net income		167,623	199,651
Assets		41,194,179		41,098,751
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		553,367	522,079
Income taxes (benefits)		(78,337)	52,314
Consolidated net income		(27,197)	79,557
Assets		6,018,217		6,696,038
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		0	0
Income taxes (benefits)		(12,392)	(20,205)
Consolidated net income		(22,477)	(12,067)
Assets		1,242,423		1,283,816
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		(21)	(20)
Income taxes (benefits)		0	0
Consolidated net income		(31,898)	$ (31,899)
Assets		$ (3,136,613)		$ (3,174,171)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2017 and 2016 include $3.4 million and $5.3 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.