Leases Purchase Power Agreement Minimum Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Current Year, Operating Leases	$ 94,043
Year Two, Operating Leases	82,191
Year Three, Operating Leases	75,147
Year Four, Operating Leases	60,808
Year Five, Operating Leases	47,391
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	88,004
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	447,584
Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Two, Operating Leases	31,876
Year Three, Operating Leases	32,609
Year Four, Operating Leases	10,180
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	105,824
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	25,970
Year Two, Operating Leases	21,681
Year Three, Operating Leases	19,514
Year Four, Operating Leases	15,756
Year Five, Operating Leases	12,092
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	22,003
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	117,016
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	5,744
Year Two, Operating Leases	4,431
Year Three, Operating Leases	3,625
Year Four, Operating Leases	2,218
Year Five, Operating Leases	1,561
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	2,726
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	20,305
Entergy Texas [Member] | Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Two, Operating Leases	31,876
Year Three, Operating Leases	32,609
Year Four, Operating Leases	10,180
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	$ 105,824