Revolving Credit Facilities, Lines Of Credit, Short-Term Borrowings, And Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	May 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 3,500,000
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 160,000
Commercial Paper Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, weighted average interest rate		2.01%
Commercial Paper program limit		$ 2,000,000
Commercial Paper Amount Outstanding		1,946,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		3,500,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		$ 20,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.225%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.62%
2.80% Series senior notes due June 2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				2.80%
Amount				$ 600,000
3.75% Series senior notes due June 2050 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				3.75%
Amount				$ 600,000
5.125% Series senior notes due September 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				5.125%
Amount				$ 450,000
Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		$ 250,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		5,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		3,100
Entergy Arkansas [Member] | 4.00% Series mortgage bonds due 2028 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.00%
Amount	$ 100,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		450,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		15,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		2,300
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility	350,000
Repayments of Debt	$ 100,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | 2.90% Series mortgage bonds due March 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	2.90%
Amount	$ 350,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | 4.20% Series mortgage bonds due September 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.20%
Amount	$ 300,000
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | 3.95% Series mortgage bonds due October 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.95%
Amount	$ 250,000
Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		175,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		1,500			$ 200
Entergy Mississippi [Member] | 3.50% Series mortgage bonds due June 2051 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				3.50%
Amount				$ 170,000
Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		200,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		30,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		400
Entergy Texas [Member] | Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility	150,000
Repayments of Debt	$ 100,000
Entergy Texas [Member] | 3.55% Series mortgage bonds due September 2049 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.55%
Amount	$ 175,000
System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		200,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Authorized Short Term Borrowings		150,000
Amount of total borrowing capacity against which fronting commitments exist		10,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		500
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | 3.75% Series mortgage bonds due March 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.75%
Amount	$ 62,000
Entergy New Orleans [Member] | 3.00% Series mortgage bonds due March 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.00%
Amount	$ 78,000
System Energy VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 80,100
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		1.91%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 16, 2021
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 23,700
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.14%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 16, 2021
Entergy Arkansas VIE [Member] | Three Point Six Five Percent Series L Notes Due July Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.65%
Amount		$ 90,000
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 16,200
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.31%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 16, 2021
Entergy Louisiana Waterford VIE [Member] | Three Point Nine Two Percent Series H Dues February Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.92%
Amount		$ 40,000
Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 44,100
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.19%
Line of credit facility commitment fee as a percentage of undrawn commitment amount		0.10%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 16, 2021
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.225%
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Maximum [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Maximum [Member] | System Energy [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Consolidated debt ratio of total capitalization		70.00%
Maximum [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Consolidated debt ratio		0.65
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage		0.075%
Credit Facility Of Twenty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 20,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.91%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Apr. 30, 2021
Credit Facility Of Three Hundred Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 350,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.91%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 14, 2024
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		2.91%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 14, 2024
Credit Facility Of One Hundred And Fifty Million [Member] | Entergy Texas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 150,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		1,300
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		3.28%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Sep. 14, 2024
Credit Facility Of Thirty Seven Point Five Million [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 37,500
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		3.28%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Apr. 30, 2021
Credit Facility Of Thirty Five Million [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 35,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		3.28%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Apr. 30, 2021
Credit Facility Of Ten Million [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 10,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		0
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		3.28%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Apr. 30, 2021
Credit Facility Of Twenty Five Million [Member] | Entergy New Orleans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility		$ 25,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		800
Amount Drawn/ Outstanding		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		3.06%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Nov. 20, 2021
Subsequent Event [Member] | Entergy Louisiana River Bend VIE [Member] | 2.51% Series V Intermediate term secured notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.51%
Amount			$ 70,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Credit Facility Of Twenty Five Million [Member] | Entergy Arkansas [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of Facility			$ 25,000
Credit Facility of Sixty Five Million [Member] | Entergy Mississippi [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 2,500
Uncommitted Credit Facility		65,000
Non-MISO letter of credit outstanding		$ 7,100