Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic And Diluted) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Basic earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation	$ 99,573	$ (723,027)	$ 148,843	$ 298,050	$ 120,127	$ 230,037	$ 189,383	$ 401,174	$ (176,562)	$ 940,721	$ 711,902
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, Shares									179,176,356	179,506,151	178,211,192
Basic earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ (4.04)	$ 0.83	$ 1.66	$ 0.67	$ 1.28	$ 1.06	$ 2.24	$ (0.99)	$ 5.24	$ 3.99
Average dilutive effect of:
Diluted earnings per share, Shares									179,176,356	180,296,885	178,570,400
Diluted earnings per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ (4.04)	$ 0.83	$ 1.65	$ 0.66	$ 1.27	$ 1.05	$ 2.24	$ (0.99)	$ 5.22	$ 3.99
Parent Company [Member]
Basic earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to Entergy Corporation									$ (176,600)	$ 940,700	$ 711,900
Net Income Attributable to Entergy Corporation, Shares									179,200,000	179,500,000	178,200,000
Basic earnings per share (in usd per share)									$ (0.99)	$ 5.24	$ 3.99
Average dilutive effect of:
Stock options, Shares									0	300,000	100,000
Stock options $/share									$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Equity units, Income									$ 0	$ 500	$ 300
Average Dilutive Effect of Other Equity Plans Per Share									$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings per share, Shares									179,200,000	180,300,000	178,600,000
Diluted earnings per share (in usd per share)									$ (0.99)	$ 5.22	$ 3.99