Common Equity (Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	$ 51,258	$ (12,983)	$ 263,759
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	166,771	113,796
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(115,513)	(126,779)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	8,951	(42,307)	(29,324)
Cash flow hedges net unrealized gain (loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	7,852	179,895
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	159,592	127,462
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(151,740)	52,433
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	105,970	98,118	(81,777)
Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	103,185	(281,566)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	32,131	(3,205)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	71,054	(278,361)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(466,604)	(569,789)	(288,223)
Net unrealized investment gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(59,138)	89,439
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(24,952)	(10,461)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(34,186)	99,900
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	367,557	426,695	337,256
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	(641)	(751)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(641)	(751)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	2,028	2,669	3,420
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	22,811	(41,386)	73,524
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(56,412)	(79,223)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Pension and other postretirement liabilities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Net other comprehensive income (loss) for the period	22,811	(41,386)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,631	(631)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	21,180	(40,755)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	$ (56,412)	$ (79,223)	$ (37,837)