Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - Entity [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 2,713,231	$ 2,996,650	$ 5,633,321		$ 6,205,493
Income taxes (benefits)	99,781	128,743	250,252		345,709
Consolidated net income	153,722	194,281	456,651	[1]	600,334	[1]
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,273,945	2,409,396	4,551,455		4,714,100
Income taxes (benefits)	117,798	122,884	209,048		237,947
Consolidated net income	204,035	212,134	431,786		417,574
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	439,306	577,891	1,081,896		1,490,013
Income taxes (benefits)	(3,300)	19,597	66,891		138,474
Consolidated net income	(3,545)	26,463	119,887		268,933
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	0	726	0		1,487
Income taxes (benefits)	(14,717)	(13,738)	(25,687)		(30,712)
Consolidated net income	(14,870)	(17,614)	(31,224)		(33,076)
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(20)	8,637	(30)		(107)
Income taxes (benefits)	0	0	0		0
Consolidated net income	$ (31,898)	$ (26,702)	$ (63,798)		$ (53,097)

[1] Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2015 and 2014 include $6.4 million and $6.4 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.