Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Schedule Of Amounts Recorded On The Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current liabilities	$ (62,513)	$ (57,994)
Non-current liabilities	(3,187,357)	(3,638,295)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(459,153)	(571,870)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(833,185)	(931,988)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(120,217)	(135,156)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(43,609)	(62,440)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(77,517)	(111,011)
System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(112,264)	(129,152)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Employee contributions	524	560
Non-current liabilities	(2,140,805)	(2,402,576)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	640,256	672,697
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(440,893)	(508,197)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(493,476)	(553,176)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(116,307)	(130,919)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(61,089)	(69,211)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(85,249)	(107,785)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(99,536)	(116,691)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Current liabilities	(21,200)	(16,200)
Non-current liabilities	(136,100)	(135,600)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	23,500	23,500
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Current liabilities	(2,128)	(347)
Non-current liabilities	(2,566)	(4,148)
Total funded status	(4,694)	(4,495)
Regulatory Asset	2,356	2,368
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(237)	(259)
Non-current liabilities	(2,313)	(2,592)
Total funded status	(2,550)	(2,851)
Regulatory Asset	544	696
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	41	98
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current liabilities	(119)	(119)
Non-current liabilities	(2,066)	(2,009)
Total funded status	(2,185)	(2,128)
Regulatory Asset	883	942
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current liabilities	(19)	(23)
Non-current liabilities	(449)	(453)
Total funded status	(468)	(476)
Regulatory Asset	(136)	(65)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(773)	(753)
Non-current liabilities	(8,059)	(8,814)
Total funded status	(8,832)	(9,567)
Regulatory Asset	(333)	296
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$ 0	$ 0