Leases Purchase Power Agreement Minimum Lease Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Current Year, Operating Leases	$ 78,302
Year Two, Operating Leases	64,371
Year Three, Operating Leases	53,073
Year Four, Operating Leases	50,574
Year Five, Operating Leases	33,337
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	79,662
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	359,319
Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	29,104
Year Two, Operating Leases	29,772
Year Three, Operating Leases	30,458
Year Four, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Five, Operating Leases	31,876
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	42,789
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	195,158
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	16,757
Year Two, Operating Leases	14,245
Year Three, Operating Leases	12,187
Year Four, Operating Leases	12,677
Year Five, Operating Leases	7,107
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	6,903
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	69,876
Entergy Texas [Member]
Current Year, Operating Leases	5,700
Year Two, Operating Leases	4,841
Year Three, Operating Leases	4,302
Year Four, Operating Leases	3,194
Year Five, Operating Leases	1,666
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	1,695
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	21,398
Entergy Texas [Member] | Purchased Power Agreement [Domain]
Current Year, Operating Leases	29,104
Year Two, Operating Leases	29,772
Year Three, Operating Leases	30,458
Year Four, Operating Leases	31,159
Year Five, Operating Leases	31,876
Years thereafter, Operating Leases	42,789
Minimum lease payments, Operating Leases	$ 195,158