Income Taxes (Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		$ 4,736,785	$ 4,593,224	$ 4,170,403
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		1,850,705	348,543	162,338
Additions for tax positions of prior years		59,815	11,637	410,108
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(3,966,535)	(213,401)	(103,360)
Settlements		(68,227)	0	(43,620)
Lapse of statute of limitations		(958)	(3,218)	(2,645)
Gross balance at December 31		2,611,585	4,736,785	4,593,224
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments	[1]	1,347,102	441,142	192,726
Remaining balances of unrecognized tax benefits, effective income tax rates		1,657,000	4,221,000	4,417,000
Net operating loss carryforwards		360,188	457,758
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(1,264,483)	(4,295,643)	(4,400,498)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		362,912	347,713	344,669
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		2,196	14,511	6,427
Additions for tax positions of prior years		1,057	1,767	1,228
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(340,720)	(1,079)	(3,943)
Settlements		0	0	(668)
Gross balance at December 31		25,445	362,912	347,713
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		21,832	1,869	2,039
Net operating loss carryforwards		0	105,063
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(3,613)	(361,043)	(345,674)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		1,205,929	1,076,680	1,002,394
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		1,367,058	151,249	17,887
Additions for tax positions of prior years		7,992	6,924	125,214
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(859,430)	(28,924)	(53,473)
Settlements		(30,888)	0	(15,342)
Gross balance at December 31		1,690,661	1,205,929	1,076,680
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		796,897	465,941	328,924
Net operating loss carryforwards		90,241	241,803
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(893,764)	(739,988)	(747,756)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		20,144	16,186	16,841
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		566	3,928	957
Additions for tax positions of prior years		8,140	319	401
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		0	(289)	(1,941)
Settlements		(9,368)	0	(72)
Gross balance at December 31		19,482	20,144	16,186
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		18,466	13,152	0
Net operating loss carryforwards		0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(1,016)	(6,992)	(16,186)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		53,763	51,679	52,018
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		472	2,235	583
Additions for tax positions of prior years		48	37	3,506
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(386)	(188)	(962)
Settlements		0	0	(3,466)
Gross balance at December 31		53,897	53,763	51,679
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		53,391	33,028	29,601
Net operating loss carryforwards		0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(506)	(20,735)	(22,078)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		17,264	13,017	13,954
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		657	4,225	2,170
Additions for tax positions of prior years		2,914	303	587
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(3,981)	(267)	(4,186)
Settlements		(3,392)	(14)	492
Gross balance at December 31		13,462	17,264	13,017
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		13,186	17,023	12,751
Net operating loss carryforwards		0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		(276)	(241)	(266)
System Energy [Member]
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Gross balance January 1		258,242	265,185	260,346
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year		472,304	2,744	4,170
Additions for tax positions of prior years		913	566	8,391
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(253,141)	(10,253)	(967)
Settlements		0	0	(6,755)
Gross balance at December 31		478,318	258,242	265,185
Unrecognized tax benefits net of unused tax attributes and payments		344,707	95,118	39,899
Net operating loss carryforwards		0	0
Offset to gross unrecognized tax benefits, credit and loss carryforward		$ (133,611)	$ (163,124)	$ (225,286)

[1] Potential tax liability above what is payable on tax returns