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	807,832	[1]	10,552	[1]	0	797,280	[1]	0	0	0	53,185	0	53,185	0	364,931	364,931	0	49,312	0	49,312	0	23,010	0	23,010	0	38,620	0	38,620	0	51,048	51,048	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(18,106)		0		0	0		(18,106)	0	0					(493)	0	(493)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	25,665		0		(11,212)	0		0	0	36,877
Common stock dividends declared	(303,843)		0		0	(303,843)		0	0	0					(105,500)	(105,500)	0	(24,000)	0	(24,000)	0	(7,000)	0	(7,000)	0					(139,000)	(99,000)	(40,000)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											200,000	200,000	0	0								47,750	47,750	0	0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(10,552)	[1]	(10,552)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(3,437)	0	(3,437)	0				(1,414)	0	(1,414)	0	(482)	0	(482)	0
Other															(15)	(15)	0
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2016	9,757,787		0		5,392,546	9,887,350		(9,155)	2,548	(5,515,502)	2,141,406	788,493	1,352,443	470	4,996,235	5,053,140	(56,905)	1,035,948	(690)	837,312	199,326	413,310	171,544	208,022	33,744	1,000,076	481,994	468,630	49,452	693,127	13,777	679,350
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	499,420	[1]	6,892	[1]	0	492,528	[1]	0	0	0	52,854	0	52,854	0	218,857	218,857	0	45,461	0	45,461	0	25,860	0	25,860	0	31,955	0	31,955	0	39,697	39,697	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	87,744		0		0	0		87,744	0	0					(680)	0	(680)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	20,984		0		(7,383)	0		0	0	28,367
Common stock dividends declared	(312,209)		0		0	(312,209)		0	0	0					(91,250)	(91,250)	0					(24,150)	0	(24,150)	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											0											0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(6,892)	[1]	(6,892)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(714)	0	(714)	0				(477)	0	(477)	0	(482)	0	(482)	0
Other															(27)	(27)	0
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 8,370,856		$ 0		$ 5,409,862	$ 8,375,890		$ 52,773	$ 2,548	$ (5,470,217)	$ 2,305,457	$ 790,243	$ 1,514,744	$ 470	$ 5,208,709	$ 5,257,831	$ (49,122)	$ 1,139,775	$ 167	$ 940,282	$ 199,326	$ 428,174	$ 171,544	$ 222,886	$ 33,744	$ 1,100,949	$ 481,994	$ 569,503	$ 49,452	$ 778,520	$ 99,170	$ 679,350

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2017 and 2016 include $6.9 million and $10.6 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.