Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		$ 2,723,881	$ 2,588,458
Income taxes (benefits)		43,663	7,763
Consolidated net income	[1]	136,200	86,051
Assets		47,281,525		$ 46,707,149
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		2,304,990	2,035,112
Income taxes (benefits)		52,224	98,492
Consolidated net income		217,940	167,623
Assets		43,690,561		42,978,669
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		418,924	553,367
Income taxes (benefits)		(1,078)	(78,337)
Consolidated net income		(17,779)	(27,197)
Assets		5,504,233		5,638,009
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		0	0
Income taxes (benefits)		(7,483)	(12,392)
Consolidated net income		(32,063)	(22,477)
Assets		834,463		1,011,612
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues		(33)	(21)
Income taxes (benefits)		0	0
Consolidated net income		(31,898)	$ (31,898)
Assets		$ (2,747,732)		$ (2,921,141)

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