Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Financial Information
Interest expense									$ 707,348	$ 662,343	$ 666,370
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(1,036,826)	542,570	(817,259)
Consolidated net income (loss)	$ (62,323)	$ 539,818	$ 248,860	$ 136,200	$ (475,710)	$ 401,644	$ 413,368	$ 86,051	862,555	425,353	(564,503)
Total assets	48,275,066				46,707,149				48,275,066	46,707,149
Investment in affiliates - at equity	0				198				0	198
Utility [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									9,540,670	9,417,866	8,996,106
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,367,944	1,345,906	1,298,043
Interest and investment income									203,936	218,317	189,994
Interest expense									552,919	547,301	557,546
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(732,548)	794,616	424,388
Consolidated net income (loss)									1,495,061	773,148	1,151,133
Total assets	44,777,167				42,978,669				44,777,167	42,978,669	41,098,751
Investment in affiliates - at equity					198					198	198
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									3,987,424	3,680,513	3,754,225
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0	0	0
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									1,468,905	1,656,730	1,849,638
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									388,732	448,079	374,922
Interest and investment income									14,543	224,121	108,466
Interest expense									33,694	23,714	22,858
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(269,025)	(146,480)	(1,192,263)
Consolidated net income (loss)									(340,641)	(172,335)	(1,493,124)
Total assets	5,459,275				5,638,009				5,459,275	5,638,009	6,696,038
Investment in affiliates - at equity					0					0	0
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									283,707	320,667	289,639
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									532,321	538,372	2,835,637
All Other [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									0	0	0
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,274	1,678	1,647
Interest and investment income									31,602	21,669	27,385
Interest expense									179,358	139,619	139,090
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(35,253)	(105,566)	(49,384)
Consolidated net income (loss)									(164,271)	(47,840)	(94,917)
Total assets	733,366				1,011,612				733,366	1,011,612	1,283,816
Investment in affiliates - at equity					0					0	0
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									86	438	393
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									(123)	(115)	(99)
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									0	0	0
Interest and investment income									(186,217)	(175,910)	(180,718)
Interest expense									(58,623)	(48,291)	(53,124)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									0	0	0
Consolidated net income (loss)									(127,594)	(127,620)	(127,595)
Total assets	(2,694,742)				(2,921,141)				(2,694,742)	(2,921,141)	(3,174,171)
Investment in affiliates - at equity					0					0	0
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									0	0	0
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									0	0	0
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Segment Financial Information
Operating revenues									11,009,452	11,074,481	10,845,645
Depreciation, amortization, & decommissioning									1,757,950	1,795,663	1,674,612
Interest and investment income									63,864	288,197	145,127
Interest expense									707,348	662,343	666,370
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									(1,036,826)	542,570	(817,259)
Consolidated net income (loss)									862,555	425,353	(564,503)
Total assets	$ 48,275,066				46,707,149				48,275,066	46,707,149	45,904,434
Investment in affiliates - at equity					$ 198					198	198
Cash paid for long-lived asset additions									4,271,217	4,001,618	4,044,257
Asset Write-Offs, Impairments, And Related Charges									$ 532,321	$ 538,372	$ 2,835,637