Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total		Subsidiaries Preferred Stock [Member]		Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Capital Stock Expense and Other [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	System Energy [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,256,791		$ 0		$ 5,403,758	$ 9,393,913		$ 8,951	$ 2,548	$ (5,552,379)	$ 1,891,658	$ 588,493	$ 1,302,695	$ 470	$ 4,737,312	$ 4,793,724	$ (56,412)	$ 1,012,050	$ (690)	$ 813,414	$ 199,326	$ 350,032	$ 123,794	$ 192,494	$ 33,744	$ 961,456	$ 481,994	$ 430,010	$ 49,452	$ 781,079	$ 61,729	$ 719,350
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	235,242	[1]	5,276	[1]	0	229,966	[1]	0	0	0	19,294	0	19,294	0	111,606	111,606	0	17,118	0	17,118	0	11,167	0	11,167	0	14,562	0	14,562	0	25,958	25,958	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	20,841		0		0	0		20,841	0	0					(263)	0	(263)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	5,188		0		(18,996)	0		0	0	24,184
Common stock dividends declared	(151,839)		0		0	(151,839)		0	0	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											200,000	200,000	0	0								47,750	47,750	0	0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(5,276)	[1]	(5,276)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(1,718)	0	(1,718)	0				(707)	0	(707)	0	(241)	0	(241)	0
Other															(7)	(7)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	9,360,947		0		5,384,762	9,472,040		29,792	2,548	(5,528,195)	2,109,234	788,493	1,320,271	470	4,848,648	4,905,323	(56,675)	1,028,461	(690)	829,825	199,326	408,708	171,544	203,420	33,744	976,018	481,994	444,572	49,452	807,037	87,687	719,350
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	8,081,809		0		5,417,245	8,195,571		(34,971)	2,548	(5,498,584)	2,253,317	790,243	1,462,604	470	5,081,809	5,130,251	(48,442)	1,094,791	167	895,298	199,326	426,946	171,544	221,658	33,744	1,068,994	481,994	537,548	49,452	738,823	59,473	679,350
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	86,051	[1]	3,446	[1]	0	82,605	[1]	0	0	0	14,304	0	14,304	0	94,378	94,378	0	17,158	0	17,158	0	10,978	0	10,978	0	10,854	0	10,854	0	20,347	20,347	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	45,931		0		0	0		45,931	0	0					(370)	0	(370)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	2,917		0		(19,166)	0		0	0	22,083
Common stock dividends declared	(156,073)		0		0	(156,073)		0	0	0					(42,125)	(42,125)	0					(12,200)	0	(12,200)	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											0											0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(3,446)	[1]	(3,446)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(357)	0	(357)	0				(238)	0	(238)	0	(241)	0	(241)	0
Other															(4)	(4)	0
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 8,057,189		$ 0		$ 5,398,079	$ 8,122,103		$ 10,960	$ 2,548	$ (5,476,501)	$ 2,267,264	$ 790,243	$ 1,476,551	$ 470	$ 5,133,688	$ 5,182,500	$ (48,812)	$ 1,111,711	$ 167	$ 912,218	$ 199,326	$ 425,483	$ 171,544	$ 220,195	$ 33,744	$ 1,079,848	$ 481,994	$ 548,402	$ 49,452	$ 759,170	$ 79,820	$ 679,350

[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.