Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total		Subsidiaries Preferred Stock [Member]		Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Capital Stock Expense and Other [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	System Energy [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,256,791		$ 0		$ 5,403,758	$ 9,393,913		$ 8,951	$ 2,548	$ (5,552,379)	$ 1,891,658	$ 588,493	$ 1,302,695	$ 470	$ 4,737,312	$ 4,793,724	$ (56,412)	$ 1,012,050	$ (690)	$ 813,414	$ 199,326	$ 350,032	$ 123,794	$ 192,494	$ 33,744	$ 961,456	$ 481,994	$ 430,010	$ 49,452	$ 781,079	$ 61,729	$ 719,350
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	1,201,035	[1]	15,586	[1]	0	1,185,449	[1]	0	0	0	163,333	0	163,333	0	554,437	554,437	0	95,924	0	95,924	0	46,712	0	46,712	0	94,753	0	94,753	0	73,418	73,418	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	29,185		0		0	0		29,185	0	0					(725)	0	(725)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	53,913		0		229	0		0	0	53,684
Common stock dividends declared	(455,993)		0		0	(455,993)		0	0	0					(215,000)	(215,000)	0	(24,000)	0	(24,000)	0	(14,000)	0	(14,000)	0					(139,000)	(99,000)	(40,000)
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											200,000	200,000	0	0								47,750	47,750	0	0
Preferred Stock Redemptions	(283)		0		0	(283)		0	0	0	(284)	1,750	(2,034)	0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(15,586)	[1]	(15,586)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(4,913)	0	(4,913)	0				(2,121)	0	(2,121)	0	(724)	0	(724)	0
Other															(22)	(22)	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	10,069,062		0		5,403,987	10,123,086		38,136	2,548	(5,498,695)	2,249,794	790,243	1,459,081	470	5,076,002	5,133,139	(57,137)	1,081,853	(690)	883,217	199,326	429,770	171,544	224,482	33,744	1,056,209	481,994	524,763	49,452	715,497	36,147	679,350
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	8,081,809		0		5,417,245	8,195,571		(34,971)	2,548	(5,498,584)	2,253,317	790,243	1,462,604	470	5,081,809	5,130,251	(48,442)	1,094,791	167	895,298	199,326	426,946	171,544	221,658	33,744	1,068,994	481,994	537,548	49,452	738,823	59,473	679,350
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Consolidated net income	901,064	[1]	10,338	[1]	0	890,726	[1]	0	0	0	145,492	0	145,492	0	405,141	405,141	0	92,006	0	92,006	0	44,389	0	44,389	0	71,543	0	71,543	0	60,280	60,280	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	146,649		0		0	0		146,649	0	0					(1,050)	0	(1,050)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	39,449		0		3,363	0		0	0	36,086
Common stock dividends declared	(468,396)		0		0	(468,396)		0	0	0					(91,250)	(91,250)	0	(10,500)	0	(10,500)	0	(36,100)	0	(36,100)	0					(85,610)	(85,610)	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent											0											0
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries	(10,338)	[1]	(10,338)	[1]	0	0		0	0	0	(1,071)	0	(1,071)	0				(715)	0	(715)	0	(724)	0	(724)	0
Other															(62)	(62)	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 8,690,237		$ 0		$ 5,420,608	$ 8,617,901		$ 111,678	$ 2,548	$ (5,462,498)	$ 2,397,738	$ 790,243	$ 1,607,025	$ 470	$ 5,394,588	$ 5,444,080	$ (49,492)	$ 1,175,582	$ 167	$ 976,089	$ 199,326	$ 434,511	$ 171,544	$ 229,223	$ 33,744	$ 1,140,537	$ 481,994	$ 609,091	$ 49,452	$ 713,493	$ 34,143	$ 679,350

[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.