Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (390,420)	$ (388,604)		$ (419,772)	$ (430,404)		$ (390,420)	$ (419,772)	$ (446,920)		$ (557,173)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax										$ (6,806)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(4,783)			3,160			117,044	160,205
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	2,967			7,472			(60,544)	(15,998)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,816)	10,383	$ 47,933	10,632	120,748	$ 12,827	56,500	144,207
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	57,560	60,255		32,007	26,736		57,560	32,007	25,946		(2,116)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax										879
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	181			8,350			40,439	37,724
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(2,876)			(3,079)			(8,825)	(4,480)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,695)			5,271			31,614	33,244
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,816)	10,383	47,933	10,632	120,748	12,827
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(468,512)	(485,949)		(483,412)	(508,876)		(468,512)	(483,412)	(557,072)		(531,922)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax										0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	0			0			34,349	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	17,437			25,464			54,211	48,510
Other comprehensive income (loss)	17,437			25,464			88,560	48,510
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	20,532	37,090		31,633	51,736		20,532	31,633	84,206		(23,135)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax										(7,685)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(4,964)			(5,190)			42,256	122,481
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(11,594)			(14,913)			(105,930)	(60,028)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(16,558)			(20,103)			(63,674)	62,453
Entergy Louisiana [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	12,284						12,284		4,562
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(800)	(945)	9,467	(969)	(969)	(969)	7,722	(2,907)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(800)	(945)	$ 9,467	(969)	(969)	$ (969)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	12,284	$ 13,084		(9,060)	$ (8,091)		12,284	(9,060)	$ 4,562		$ (6,153)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax							10,050	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(800)			(969)			(2,328)	(2,907)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (800)			$ (969)			$ 7,722	$ (2,907)
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss										(563,979)
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)
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)
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)