Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016		Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	$ 3,243,628,000	$ 3,124,703,000	$ 8,450,636,000		$ 8,197,118,000
Income taxes (benefits)	241,795,000	257,906,000	(87,555,000)		148,879,000
Consolidated net income	401,644,000	393,204,000	901,064,000	[1]	1,201,035,000	[1]
Assets	46,398,442,000		46,398,442,000				$ 45,904,434,000
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	2,820,421,000	2,649,392,000	7,156,865,000		6,855,664,000
Income taxes (benefits)	230,647,000	255,603,000	459,990,000		359,653,000
Consolidated net income	403,733,000	447,782,000	817,738,000		1,027,751,000
Assets	42,669,606,000		42,669,606,000				41,098,751,000
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	423,245,000	475,345,000	1,293,867,000		1,341,534,000
Income taxes (benefits)	25,563,000	6,115,000	(507,719,000)		(176,626,000)
Consolidated net income	55,765,000	8,221,000	252,455,000		338,651,000
Assets	5,630,207,000		5,630,207,000				6,696,038,000
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	0	0	0		0
Income taxes (benefits)	(14,415,000)	(3,812,000)	(39,826,000)		(34,148,000)
Consolidated net income	(25,956,000)	(30,901,000)	(73,434,000)		(69,672,000)
Assets	985,466,000		985,466,000				1,283,816,000
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues	(38,000)	(34,000)	(96,000)		(80,000)
Income taxes (benefits)	0	0	0		0
Consolidated net income	(31,898,000)	$ (31,898,000)	(95,695,000)		$ (95,695,000)
Assets	$ (2,886,837,000)		$ (2,886,837,000)				$ (3,174,171,000)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2017 and 2016 include $10.3 million and $15.6 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.