Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit And Short-Term Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 1,942,339		$ 1,578,308
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	3,500,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist	$ 20,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.225%
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Commercial Paper program limit	$ 2,000,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding	$ 1,942,000
Consolidated debt ratio of lessees total capitalization	70.00%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 220,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Letters of credit posted to cover derivative exposure	$ 200
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist	$ 10,000
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 145,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.20%
Debt, weighted average interest rate	3.50%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 139,000
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 0		17,830
Consolidated debt ratio of lessees total capitalization	70.00%
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 0		49,974
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist	$ 5,000
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Consolidated debt ratio of lessees total capitalization	70.00%
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist	$ 30,000
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term borrowings	$ 0		$ 43,540
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist	$ 15,000
Consolidated debt ratio	65.00%
Consolidated debt ratio of lessees total capitalization	70.00%
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount	0.10%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 82,000
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount	0.10%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 38,600
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount	0.10%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 113,900
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount	0.10%
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding	$ 59,600
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate	3.60%
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate	2.50%
Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member] | Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable noncurrent amount	$ 40,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.92%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.225%
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage	0.075%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 139,000