Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss))(Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	$ 10,960	$ 29,792	$ (34,971)	$ 8,951
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	61,179	(11,026)	133,659	104,029
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(19,366)	(27,921)	(45,915)	(122,135)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	41,813	(38,947)	87,744	(18,106)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	52,773	(9,155)	52,773	(9,155)
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	748	1,744	748	2,028
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(748)	(904)	(748)	(1,188)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(748)	(904)	(748)	(1,188)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	0	840	0	840
Net Unrealized Investment Gains [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	467,561	390,626	429,734	367,557
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	33,870	24,016	73,742	49,048
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(22,174)	(3,061)	(24,219)	(5,024)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,696	20,955	49,523	44,024
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	479,257	411,581	479,257	411,581
Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(460,814)	(459,042)	(469,446)	(466,604)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	10,916	5,043	19,548	12,605
Other comprehensive income (loss)	10,916	5,043	19,548	12,605
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(449,898)	(453,999)	(449,898)	(453,999)
Cash Flow Hedges Net Unrealized Gain [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	3,465	96,464	3,993	105,970
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	28,057	(34,138)	60,665	56,169
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(8,108)	(29,903)	(41,244)	(129,716)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	19,949	(64,041)	19,421	(73,547)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	23,414	32,423	23,414	32,423
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance			(48,442)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(310)	(230)	(680)	(493)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	(49,122)		(49,122)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension And Other Postretirement Liabilities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance	(48,812)	(56,675)	(48,442)	(56,412)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(310)	(230)	(680)	(493)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(310)	(230)	(680)	(493)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance	$ (49,122)	$ (56,905)	$ (49,122)	$ (56,905)