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, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current liabilities	$ (76,942)	$ (62,513)
Non-current liabilities	(3,036,010)	(3,187,357)
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(424,234)	(459,153)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(780,278)	(833,185)
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(109,551)	(120,217)
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(36,750)	(43,609)
Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(67,313)	(77,517)
System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(117,850)	(112,264)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member]
Employee contributions	23	524
Non-current liabilities	(1,971,365)	(2,140,805)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	619,935	640,256
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(412,718)	(440,893)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(455,086)	(493,476)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(104,852)	(116,307)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(54,976)	(61,089)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(68,790)	(85,249)
Qualified Pension Obligations [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Non-current liabilities	(100,237)	(99,536)
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Current liabilities	(31,700)	(21,200)
Non-current liabilities	(137,600)	(136,100)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	31,600	23,500
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Current liabilities	(242)	(2,128)
Non-current liabilities	(3,655)	(2,566)
Total funded status	(3,897)	(4,694)
Regulatory Asset	2,914	2,356
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Current liabilities	(233)	(237)
Non-current liabilities	(1,901)	(2,313)
Total funded status	(2,134)	(2,550)
Regulatory Asset	175	544
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	13	41
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Current liabilities	(137)	(119)
Non-current liabilities	(2,159)	(2,066)
Total funded status	(2,296)	(2,185)
Regulatory Asset	876	883
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Current liabilities	(20)	(19)
Non-current liabilities	(495)	(449)
Total funded status	(515)	(468)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities	(148)	(136)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	0	0
Non-Qualified Pension Plans [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Current liabilities	(773)	(773)
Non-current liabilities	(7,892)	(8,059)
Total funded status	(8,665)	(8,832)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities	(316)	(333)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$ 0	$ 0