Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			$ 0		$ (56,360)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (551,152)	$ (561,498)		$ (557,173)		$ (23,531)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax					(632,617)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	41,851	72,404
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(29,024)	6,741
Other comprehensive income (loss)	12,827	79,145
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect		(16,538)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects		15,505
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			879
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	12,466	(6,201)		(2,116)		545,045
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax					(632,617)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	13,539	838
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	164	(33,694)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	13,703	(32,856)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects		114,227
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			(6,806)		(632,617)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	12,827	79,145
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect		15,505
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(520,372)	(605,491)		(531,922)		(531,099)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax					0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	11,550	16,574
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,550	16,574
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects		(90,966)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			(7,685)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(43,246)	50,194		(23,135)		(37,477)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax					0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	28,312	71,566
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(40,738)	23,861
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12,426)	95,427
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects		(7,756)
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,122)			(6,153)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(969)	(501)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect		(3,787)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(969)	(501)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect		(10,049)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7,122)	(56,950)		$ (6,153)		$ (46,400)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(969)	(501)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(969)	(501)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects	$ 0	$ (10,049)
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(563,979)		(656,148)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(1,237)		(87,572)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(531,922)		(531,099)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			$ (30,820)		$ (37,477)