Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 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	$ (419,772)	$ (430,404)		$ (632,126)	$ (613,642)		$ (419,772)	$ (632,126)		$ (557,173)		$ (23,531)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax									(6,806)		(632,617)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	3,160			(47,574)			160,205	(82,774)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	7,472			29,090			(15,998)	91,291
Other comprehensive income (loss)	10,632	120,748	$ 12,827	(18,484)	(52,144)	$ 79,145	144,207	8,517
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]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	32,007	26,736		(10,587)	(8,842)		32,007	(10,587)		(2,116)		545,045
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax									879		(632,617)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	8,350			(7,173)			37,724	(50,958)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(3,079)			5,428			(4,480)	13,716
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,271			(1,745)			33,244	(37,242)
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)	10,632	120,748	12,827	(18,484)	(52,144)	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]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(483,412)	(508,876)		(574,661)	(589,926)		(483,412)	(574,661)		(531,922)		(531,099)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax									0		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	0			0			0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	25,464			15,265			48,510	47,404
Other comprehensive income (loss)	25,464			15,265			48,510	47,404
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]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	31,633	51,736		(46,878)	(14,874)		31,633	(46,878)		(23,135)		(37,477)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax									(7,685)		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	(5,190)			(40,401)			122,481	(31,816)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(14,913)			8,397			(60,028)	30,171
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(20,103)			(32,004)			62,453	(1,645)
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	(9,060)						(9,060)			(6,153)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(969)	(969)	(969)	(500)	(501)	(501)	(2,907)	(1,502)
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)	(969)	$ (969)	(500)	(501)	(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	(9,060)	$ (8,091)		(57,951)	$ (57,451)		(9,060)	(57,951)		$ (6,153)		$ (46,400)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(969)			(500)			(2,907)	(1,502)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (969)			$ (500)			(2,907)	(1,502)
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)