Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, Amounts Recognized In The Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$ (61,240)	$ (71,612)
Non-current liabilities	(2,616,085)	(2,910,654)
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	1,563,487	1,568,963
Service cost	27,129	26,915	$ 32,291
Interest cost	50,725	55,838	56,331
Plan amendments	0	(2,564)
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(346,429)	(23,409)
Employee contributions	37,049	35,080
Benefits Paid	(99,785)	(97,829)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	443	493
Balance at end of year	1,232,619	1,563,487	1,568,963
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	659,327	596,660
Actual return on plan assets	(30,582)	81,143
Employer contributions	43,773	44,273
Employee contributions	37,049	35,080
Benefits Paid	(99,785)	(97,829)
Fair value of assets at end of year	609,782	659,327	596,660
Funded status	(622,837)	(904,160)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	(44,276)	(45,237)
Non-current liabilities	(578,561)	(858,923)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(25,778)	(40,461)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(51,774)	(144,966)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	25,996	104,505
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	(42,730)	(65,047)
Net loss	(33,569)	161,322
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	(76,299)	96,275
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	7,987,087	7,142,567
Service cost	155,010	133,641
Interest cost	267,415	260,824
Settlement charges	(1,794)	0
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(395,242)	767,849
Employee contributions	0	40
Benefits Paid	(607,559)	(317,834)
Balance at end of year	7,404,917	7,987,087	7,142,567
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	6,071,316	5,171,202
Actual return on plan assets	(348,051)	808,007
Employer contributions	383,503	409,901
Employee contributions	0	40
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Payment for Settlement	(1,794)	0
Benefits Paid	(607,559)	(317,834)
Fair value of assets at end of year	5,497,415	6,071,316	5,171,202
Funded status	(1,907,502)	(1,915,771)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(1,907,502)	(1,915,771)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(2,468,987)	(2,418,206)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	398
Net loss	737,004	667,766
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	737,004	668,164
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(313,295)	(353,274)
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	249,019	258,787
Service cost	3,170	3,451	3,913
Interest cost	7,986	9,020	9,297
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(61,960)	(11,691)
Employee contributions	8,136	7,875
Benefits Paid	(18,581)	(18,497)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	60	74
Balance at end of year	187,830	249,019	258,787
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	274,678	250,926
Actual return on plan assets	(12,373)	33,679
Employer contributions	195	695
Employee contributions	8,136	7,875
Benefits Paid	(18,581)	(18,497)
Fair value of assets at end of year	252,055	274,678	250,926
Funded status	64,225	25,659
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	0	0
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan	64,225	25,659
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(11,465)	(16,574)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(9,021)	(42,394)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	(2,444)	25,820
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	0
Net loss	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	1,580,756	1,454,310
Service cost	24,757	20,358
Interest cost	52,017	51,776
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(79,621)	131,729
Benefits Paid	(134,101)	(77,417)
Balance at end of year	1,443,808	1,580,756	1,454,310
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	1,205,668	1,041,592
Actual return on plan assets	(66,787)	161,868
Employer contributions	64,062	79,625
Benefits Paid	(134,101)	(77,417)
Fair value of assets at end of year	1,068,842	1,205,668	1,041,592
Funded status	(374,966)	(375,088)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(374,966)	(375,088)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(727,703)	(706,783)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	0	0
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(643,171)	(748,384)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	345,389	342,500
Service cost	6,225	6,373	7,476
Interest cost	11,154	12,101	13,041
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(73,249)	(1,256)
Employee contributions	8,162	7,855
Benefits Paid	(22,476)	(22,273)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	64	89
Balance at end of year	275,269	345,389	342,500
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Employer contributions	14,314	14,418
Employee contributions	8,162	7,855
Benefits Paid	(22,476)	(22,273)
Fair value of assets at end of year	0	0	0
Funded status	(275,269)	(345,389)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	(17,740)	(18,794)
Non-current liabilities	(257,529)	(326,595)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	0	0
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	(12,264)	(19,999)
Net loss	(23,214)	51,585
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	(35,478)	31,586
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	1,785,700	1,624,233
Service cost	33,783	27,698
Interest cost	59,761	59,235
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(133,520)	147,704
Benefits Paid	(145,808)	(73,170)
Balance at end of year	1,599,916	1,785,700	1,624,233
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	1,365,741	1,169,147
Actual return on plan assets	(75,926)	182,261
Employer contributions	71,919	87,503
Benefits Paid	(145,808)	(73,170)
Fair value of assets at end of year	1,215,926	1,365,741	1,169,147
Funded status	(383,990)	(419,959)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(383,990)	(419,959)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(686,138)	(701,324)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	43,796	44,765
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(93,100)	(101,498)
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	84,621	78,485
Service cost	1,284	1,160	1,543
Interest cost	2,731	2,759	2,835
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(16,762)	5,858
Employee contributions	2,233	2,160
Benefits Paid	(5,145)	(5,823)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	14	22
Balance at end of year	68,976	84,621	78,485
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	82,433	75,945
Actual return on plan assets	(3,755)	10,153
Employer contributions	87
Defined Benefit Plan Reimbursement in Excess of Contribution		(2)
Employee contributions	2,233	2,160
Benefits Paid	(5,145)	(5,823)
Fair value of assets at end of year	75,853	82,433	75,945
Funded status	6,877	(2,188)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	0	0
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan	6,877
Non-current liabilities		(2,188)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(4,864)	(6,687)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(15,945)	(25,247)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	11,081	18,560
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	0
Net loss	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	457,549	419,201
Service cost	7,286	5,890
Interest cost	15,075	14,927
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(26,611)	38,726
Benefits Paid	(39,210)	(21,195)
Balance at end of year	414,089	457,549	419,201
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	360,842	314,349
Actual return on plan assets	(19,849)	48,572
Employer contributions	14,933	19,116
Benefits Paid	(39,210)	(21,195)
Fair value of assets at end of year	316,716	360,842	314,349
Funded status	(97,373)	(96,707)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(97,373)	(96,707)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(196,683)	(191,877)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	0	0
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(5,626)	(20,755)
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	53,548	55,515
Service cost	516	567	622
Interest cost	1,669	1,874	1,791
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(10,847)	(899)
Employee contributions	1,171	1,151
Benefits Paid	(4,078)	(4,670)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	8	10
Balance at end of year	41,987	53,548	55,515
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	85,504	74,236
Actual return on plan assets	(4,616)	11,078
Employer contributions	3,793	3,709
Employee contributions	1,171	1,151
Benefits Paid	(4,078)	(4,670)
Fair value of assets at end of year	81,774	85,504	74,236
Funded status	39,787	31,956
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	0	0
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan	39,787	31,956
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(681)	(1,427)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(3,151)	(4,269)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	2,470	2,842
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	0
Net loss	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	217,896	197,464
Service cost	2,693	2,500
Interest cost	7,253	7,163
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(18,844)	19,507
Benefits Paid	(17,808)	(8,738)
Balance at end of year	191,190	217,896	197,464
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	165,747	142,488
Actual return on plan assets	(9,221)	22,104
Employer contributions	7,250	9,893
Benefits Paid	(17,808)	(8,738)
Fair value of assets at end of year	145,968	165,747	142,488
Funded status	(45,222)	(52,149)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(45,222)	(52,149)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(91,448)	(96,913)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	0	0
Entergy Texas [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(4,834)	(17,853)
Entergy Texas [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	116,702	127,700
Service cost	1,319	1,488	1,590
Interest cost	3,754	4,494	4,154
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(27,527)	(12,469)
Employee contributions	2,565	2,453
Benefits Paid	(8,516)	(6,980)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	13	16
Balance at end of year	88,310	116,702	127,700
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	154,171	137,069
Actual return on plan assets	(7,182)	18,506
Employer contributions	3,808	3,123
Employee contributions	2,565	2,453
Benefits Paid	(8,516)	(6,980)
Fair value of assets at end of year	144,846	154,171	137,069
Funded status	56,536	37,469
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	0	0
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan	56,536	37,469
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(3,665)	(5,980)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(13,094)	(24,478)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	9,429	18,498
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	0
Net loss	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Entergy Texas [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	410,720	386,366
Service cost	6,356	5,455
Interest cost	13,390	13,569
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(21,656)	25,339
Benefits Paid	(39,206)	(20,009)
Balance at end of year	369,604	410,720	386,366
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	363,523	317,576
Actual return on plan assets	(19,686)	48,952
Employer contributions	10,883	17,004
Benefits Paid	(39,206)	(20,009)
Fair value of assets at end of year	315,514	363,523	317,576
Funded status	(54,090)	(47,197)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(54,090)	(47,197)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(159,030)	(145,412)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	0	0
System Energy [Member]
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(98,639)	(121,874)
System Energy [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	61,381	62,498
Service cost	1,223	1,278	1,337
Interest cost	1,998	2,236	2,117
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(11,985)	(2,233)
Employee contributions	1,837	1,779
Benefits Paid	(5,685)	(4,205)
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Prescription Drug Subsidy Receipts Received (Deprecated 2017-01-31)	22	28
Balance at end of year	48,791	61,381	62,498
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	49,124	44,885
Actual return on plan assets	(2,175)	6,095
Employer contributions	569	570
Employee contributions	1,837	1,779
Benefits Paid	(5,685)	(4,205)
Fair value of assets at end of year	43,670	49,124	44,885
Funded status	(5,121)	(12,257)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	0	0
Non-current liabilities	(5,121)	(12,257)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Before Tax	(2,304)	(3,819)
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(8,774)	(16,386)
Defined Benefit Plan Regulatory Asset Before Tax	6,470	12,567
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service cost	0	0
Net loss	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
System Energy [Member] | Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Change in APBO
Balance at beginning of year	384,049	335,381
Service cost	7,102	6,145
Interest cost	12,907	12,364
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(37,842)	45,471
Benefits Paid	(27,182)	(15,312)
Balance at end of year	339,034	384,049	335,381
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	274,432	235,144
Actual return on plan assets	(15,520)	36,387
Employer contributions	13,786	18,213
Benefits Paid	(27,182)	(15,312)
Fair value of assets at end of year	245,516	274,432	$ 235,144
Funded status	(93,518)	(109,617)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Non-current liabilities	(93,518)	(109,617)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset (before tax) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Regulatory Asset, Gain (Loss) before Tax	(168,559)	(185,774)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$ 0	$ 0