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 Texas [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Subsidiaries Preferred Stock [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Paid In Capital [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Entergy Texas [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Entergy Mississippi [Member]	Entergy Arkansas [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Entergy Louisiana [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Entergy New Orleans [Member]	System Energy [Member]	System Energy [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	System Energy [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 10,258,675	$ 35,000	$ 6,564,436	$ 9,257,609	$ (446,920)	$ 2,700	$ (5,154,150)	$ 1,799,407	$ 35,000	$ 780,182	$ 934,773	$ 49,452	$ 1,542,151	$ 3,125,937	$ 6,397,118	$ 6,392,556	$ 4,562	$ 497,579	$ 712,068	$ 110,218	$ 601,850
Consolidated net income	123,294	4,580	0	118,714	0	0	0	32,707	0	0	32,707	0	22,526	44,595	189,396	189,396	0	11,186	28,513	28,513	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent								175,000	0	175,000	0	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(185,763)	0	0	(185,763)	0	0	0						(2,500)		(11,500)	(11,500)	0		(13,653)	(13,653)	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(4,580)	(4,580)	0	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	47,933	0	0	0	47,933	0	0								9,467	0	9,467
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	(19,827)	0	53,753	0	0	0	(73,580)
Other															(10)	(10)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Preferred Unit Holders	4,580							470
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	4,100							470	0	0	470	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	10,258,967	35,000	6,510,683	9,190,141	(398,987)	2,700	(5,080,570)	2,006,644	35,000	955,182	967,010	49,452	1,562,177	3,170,532	6,584,471	6,570,442	14,029	508,765	726,928	125,078	601,850
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	10,961,142	35,000	6,549,923	9,897,182	(449,207)	2,700	(5,074,456)	2,157,578	35,000	955,162	1,117,964	49,452	1,672,734	3,276,169	7,457,688	7,453,361	4,327	606,917	1,080,546	128,696	951,850
Consolidated net income	339,145	4,580	0	334,565	0	0	0	50,058	0	0	50,058	0	25,972	93,037	166,626	166,626	0	1,771	23,864	23,864	0
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent								0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(190,595)	0	0	(190,595)	0	0	0												(21,000)	(21,000)	0
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(4,580)	(4,580)	0	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(51,300)	0	0	0	(51,300)	0	0								(407)	0	(407)
Common stock issuances related to stock plans	1,636	0	29,871	0	0	0	(28,235)
Other															(16)	(16)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Preferred Unit Holders	4,580							470
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	4,100							470	0	0	470	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,052,176	$ 35,000	$ 6,520,052	$ 10,041,152	$ (500,507)	$ 2,700	$ (5,046,221)	$ 2,207,166	$ 35,000	$ 955,162	$ 1,167,552	$ 49,452	$ 1,698,706	$ 3,369,206	$ 7,623,891	$ 7,619,971	$ 3,920	$ 608,688	$ 1,083,410	$ 131,560	$ 951,850