Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,920,090		$ 3,208,843
Income taxes (benefits)	150,471		216,966
Consolidated net income	302,929	[1]	406,053	[1]
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,277,510		2,304,704
Income taxes (benefits)	91,251		115,064
Consolidated net income	227,750		205,440
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	642,590		912,122
Income taxes (benefits)	70,190		118,877
Consolidated net income	123,432		242,470
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	0		761
Income taxes (benefits)	(10,970)		(16,975)
Consolidated net income	(16,354)		(15,462)
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(10)		(8,744)
Consolidated net income	$ (31,899)		$ (26,395)

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2015 and 2014 include $3.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.