Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ 862,555	$ 425,353	$ (564,503)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	2,040,555	2,078,578	2,123,291
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(256,848)	529,053	(836,257)
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges	491,739	357,251	2,835,637
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	98,546	(97,637)	(96,975)
Fuel inventory	45,839	(3,043)	38,210
Accounts payable	97,312	101,802	174,421
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	39,272	33,853	(28,963)
Interest accrued	5,220	742	(7,335)
Deferred fuel costs	(25,829)	56,290	(241,896)
Other working capital accounts	(164,173)	(4,331)	31,197
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	35,706	(3,279)	20,905
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(189,193)	(595,504)	48,469
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(803,323)	2,915,795	158,031
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(3,665,498)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(304,941)	(130,686)	(136,919)
Other	(34,424)	566,247	421,676
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	2,385,247	2,623,500	2,998,699
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(3,942,010)	(3,607,532)	(2,780,222)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	130,195	96,000	68,345
Nuclear fuel purchases	(302,584)	(377,324)	(314,706)
Payment for purchase of plant or assets	(26,623)	(16,762)	(949,329)
Proceeds from sale of assets	24,902	100,000	0
Payments To Storm Reserve Escrow Account	(6,551)	(2,878)	(1,544)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	0	11,323	0
Changes in securitization account	(5,844)	1,323	4,007
Decrease (increase) in other investments	(54,500)	1,078	9,055
Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs	59,643	25,493	169,085
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	6,484,791	3,162,747	2,408,920
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(6,485,676)	(3,260,674)	(2,484,627)
Proceeds from insurance	18,270	26,157	20,968
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(4,105,987)	(3,841,049)	(3,850,048)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	8,035,536	1,809,390	6,800,558
Preferred stock of subsidiary	73,330	14,399	0
Common stock and treasury stock	103,315	80,729	33,114
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	499,272	0	0
Retirement of long-term debt	(6,965,738)	(1,585,681)	(5,311,324)
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(53,868)	(20,599)	(115,283)
Changes in credit borrowings and commercial paper - net	(364,031)	(1,163,296)	79,337
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(647,704)	(628,885)	(611,835)
Preferred stock	(14,185)	(13,940)	(20,789)
Other	26,453	(7,731)	(6,872)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	1,420,442	810,978	688,232
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(300,298)	(406,571)	(163,117)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	781,273	1,187,844	1,350,961
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	480,975	781,273	1,187,844
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	734,845	678,371	746,779
Income taxes	19,825	(13,375)	95,317
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	252,707	139,844	167,212
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	443,698	427,394	414,933
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	129,524	67,711	201,219
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	4,294	(23,397)	(39,118)
Fuel inventory	6,210	3,402	29,929
Accounts payable	(126,405)	16,011	143,645
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	9,568	40,127	37,485
Interest accrued	678	1,635	(3,303)
Deferred fuel costs	43,869	33,190	(105,741)
Other working capital accounts	(30,118)	15,087	(46,490)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	14,250	16,047	13,130
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(32,460)	76,762	95,464
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(341,682)	1,043,507	62,994
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(1,047,837)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(40,157)	(70,826)	(36,805)
Other	187,071	29,577	67,115
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	211,825	555,556	676,511
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(660,044)	(735,816)	(666,289)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	17,013	19,211	17,754
Nuclear fuel purchases	(99,417)	(151,424)	(102,050)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	54,810	51,029	39,313
Payment for purchase of plant or assets	0	0	(237,323)
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	300,801	339,434	197,390
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(315,163)	(352,138)	(213,093)
Proceeds from insurance	14,790	0	10,404
Other	(1,517)	392	5,899
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(688,727)	(829,312)	(947,995)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	958,434	294,656	817,563
Retirement of long-term debt	(690,488)	(175,560)	(628,433)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent	350,000	0	200,000
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(32,660)	0	(85,283)
Change in money pool payable - net	16,601	114,905	(1,510)
Changes in credit borrowings and commercial paper - net	49,974	(49,974)	11,690
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(91,751)	(15,000)	0
Preferred stock	(1,606)	(1,428)	(6,631)
Other	12,249	(8,084)	(1,158)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	470,805	259,463	282,858
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,097)	(14,293)	11,374
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	6,216	20,509	9,135
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	119	6,216	20,509
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	118,731	115,162	112,912
Income taxes	44,393	(8,141)	(135,709)
Noncash Capital Contribution from Parent	(94,335)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	675,614	316,347	622,047
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	662,390	621,018	620,211
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	174,063	575,804	178,549
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	89,701	(53,829)	(102,200)
Fuel inventory	5,310	11,010	(2,693)
Accounts payable	11,372	58,880	(36,720)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	12,711	128,261	(235,246)
Interest accrued	7,922	(70)	1,218
Deferred fuel costs	(40,036)	23,236	(17,023)
Other working capital accounts	(5,809)	(30,911)	6,462
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	8,307	(8,324)	490
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(40,765)	(492,696)	(57,579)
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(125,185)	605,453	62,351
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(1,207,808)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(106,269)	(32,309)	(52,559)
Other	15,652	161,909	64,554
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	1,395,204	1,337,545	1,037,912
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(1,805,641)	(1,662,835)	(1,030,416)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	79,922	51,485	27,925
Nuclear fuel purchases	(111,329)	(197,829)	(73,618)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	53,603	42,634	63,304
Payment for purchase of plant or assets	0	0	(474,670)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets	(26,623)	(9,805)	0
Proceeds from sale of assets	11,987	0	0
Payments To Storm Reserve Escrow Account	(4,770)	(2,110)	(1,063)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	4	8,835	0
Changes in securitization account	(1,655)	880	351
Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs	0	0	57,934
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	1,055,690	231,293	219,182
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(1,097,204)	(266,592)	(257,209)
Change in money pool receivable - net	(35,672)	11,330	(16,349)
Proceeds from insurance	3,480	5,305	10,564
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(1,878,208)	(1,787,409)	(1,474,065)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	2,319,799	733,344	2,450,063
Retirement of long-term debt	(1,664,354)	(407,736)	(1,488,870)
Changes in credit borrowings and commercial paper - net	43,540	(39,746)	56,562
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(128,000)	(91,250)	(285,500)
Other	6,556	(2,183)	(4,230)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	490,461	271,921	614,901
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	7,457	(177,943)	178,748
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	35,907	213,850	35,102
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	43,364	35,907	213,850
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	272,335	266,871	324,456
Income taxes	(105,157)	(234,199)	156,605
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	126,078	110,032	109,184
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	152,577	143,479	136,214
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	56,502	84,816	60,986
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	37,762	(29,528)	(28,819)
Fuel inventory	33,675	5,266	401
Accounts payable	(7,472)	3,595	33,733
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(5,291)	18,803	20,579
Interest accrued	(2,670)	1,248	822
Deferred fuel costs	24,428	(25,487)	(114,711)
Other working capital accounts	(9,902)	5,115	(5,222)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	6,378	(9,676)	6,378
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(54,860)	17,412	3,626
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(131,856)	405,395	(2,986)
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(452,429)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(8,405)	(8,055)	(10,648)
Other	(91,718)	8,577	(9,995)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	418,382	226,585	212,280
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(387,293)	(427,616)	(310,356)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	8,710	9,667	5,801
Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets	0	(6,958)	0
Change in money pool receivable - net	(39,747)	8,962	15,335
Other	(1,123)	(1,281)	(224)
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(419,453)	(417,226)	(289,444)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	54,449	148,185	623,812
Retirement of long-term debt	0	0	(562,400)
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(21,208)	0	(30,000)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(10,000)	(26,000)	(24,000)
Preferred stock	(993)	(953)	(2,755)
Other	9,681	(1,329)	3,736
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	31,929	119,903	8,393
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	30,858	(70,738)	(68,771)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	6,096	76,834	145,605
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,954	6,096	76,834
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	56,037	47,631	53,693
Income taxes	(19,118)	(25,043)	(12,487)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	53,152	44,553	48,849
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	55,930	52,945	51,737
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	24,548	64,036	140,283
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	15,724	(18,058)	(3,888)
Fuel inventory	357	(49)	71
Accounts payable	(385)	1,874	15,434
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	30,547	(22,100)	(1,685)
Interest accrued	879	44	534
Deferred fuel costs	(6,486)	12,592	(33,839)
Other working capital accounts	4,146	(2,711)	4,165
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	1,511	(3,430)	4,326
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(21,637)	(16,673)	2,784
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(28,459)	110,147	(3,997)
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(111,170)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(15,134)	(15,994)	(6,859)
Other	(13,811)	1,555	7,136
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	171,778	127,797	205,211
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(202,186)	(115,584)	(90,512)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	5,941	2,418	1,178
Payment for purchase of plant or assets	0	0	(237,335)
Investment in affiliates	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business			(38)
Payments To Storm Reserve Escrow Account	(1,311)	(597)	(438)
Receipts from storm reserve escrow account	3	2,488	3
Changes in securitization account	(770)	283	2,882
Change in money pool receivable - net	(9,293)	1,492	1,579
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(207,616)	(109,500)	(322,681)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	59,234	0	240,604
Retirement of long-term debt	(11,042)	(10,600)	(132,526)
Repayment of long-term payable due to Entergy Louisiana	(2,077)	(2,104)	(4,973)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent	0	20,000	47,750
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	0	(20,599)	0
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(23,750)	(74,250)	(18,720)
Preferred stock	0	(1,083)	(965)
Other	409	12	492
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	22,774	(88,624)	131,662
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(13,064)	(70,327)	14,192
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	32,741	103,068	88,876
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	19,677	32,741	103,068
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	19,840	20,180	19,317
Income taxes	(39,781)	(8,660)	(85,962)
Entergy Texas [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	162,235	76,173	107,538
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	128,534	117,520	107,026
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	(39,545)	42,119	20,794
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	(17,099)	(15,934)	(9,300)
Fuel inventory	64	(25,054)	9,765
Accounts payable	43,319	32,842	(22,462)
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	7,854	30,308	10,018
Interest accrued	(1,201)	(421)	(3,229)
Deferred fuel costs	(47,604)	12,758	29,419
Other working capital accounts	1,328	(7,852)	(3,354)
Changes in provisions for estimated losses	3,741	2,531	(1,735)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	(63,350)	(184,574)	(74,389)
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(19,336)	410,968	2,106
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(520,547)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(13,135)	(49,445)	(10,204)
Other	(59,248)	(10,856)	4,170
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	331,753	301,396	306,601
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(451,988)	(348,027)	(337,963)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	9,861	6,874	7,743
Proceeds from sale of assets	3,753	0	0
Changes in securitization account	(2,502)	(232)	710
Change in money pool receivable - net	44,903	(44,222)	(681)
Proceeds from insurance	0	2,431	0
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(395,973)	(383,176)	(330,191)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	0	148,277	123,502
Retirement of long-term debt	(74,950)	(71,683)	(68,593)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent	0	115,000	0
Change in money pool payable - net	22,389	0	(22,068)
Dividends paid:
Other	1,324	(482)	(5,252)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	(51,237)	191,112	27,589
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(115,457)	109,332	3,999
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	115,513	6,181	2,182
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	56	115,513	6,181
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	85,719	84,556	88,489
Income taxes	20,787	(21,107)	28,523
System Energy [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income (loss)	94,109	78,596	96,744
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning, including nuclear fuel amortization	186,719	240,962	224,879
Deferred income taxes, investment tax credits, and non-current taxes accrued	24,040	7,827	99,531
Changes in working capital:
Receivables	18,169	9,210	(15,846)
Accounts payable	(7,067)	15,969	2,720
Prepaid taxes and taxes accrued	(51,999)	62,466	(6,555)
Interest accrued	(94)	(660)	(134)
Other working capital accounts	(45,415)	12,083	(15,470)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Regulatory Assets	2,044	(60,012)	58,279
Increase (Decrease) in Regulatory Liabilities	(156,802)	331,251	33,438
Deferred tax rate change recognized as regulatory liability/asset	0	(325,707)	0
Changes in pensions and other postretirement liabilities	(23,235)	4,024	5,586
Other	(64,947)	124,755	24,675
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	101,328	371,278	341,939
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures	(194,696)	(91,705)	(88,037)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	8,750	6,345	7,944
Nuclear fuel purchases	(125,272)	(49,728)	(151,068)
Proceeds from sale of nuclear fuel	30,634	69,516	11,467
Litigation proceeds for reimbursement of spent nuclear fuel storage costs	0	0	15,806
Proceeds from nuclear decommissioning trust fund sales	573,561	565,416	499,252
Investment in nuclear decommissioning trust funds	(583,683)	(596,236)	(534,083)
Change in money pool receivable - net	4,545	(77,858)	6,117
Net cash flow used in investing activities	(286,161)	(174,250)	(232,602)
Proceeds from the issuance of:
Long-term debt	741,785	150,100	0
Retirement of long-term debt	(662,904)	(150,103)	(22,002)
Changes in credit borrowings and commercial paper - net	17,830	49,063	(66,893)
Dividends paid:
Common stock	(67,720)	(106,610)	(139,000)
Other	0	(28)	(26)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities	(6,669)	(155,704)	(94,135)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(191,502)	41,324	15,202
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	287,187	245,863	230,661
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	95,685	287,187	245,863
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest - net of amount capitalized	17,183	26,251	36,152
Income taxes	$ 53,956	$ (2,227)	$ (23,565)