Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 3,353,532			$ 2,903,568			$ 9,020,440	$ 7,743,534
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	158,282			149,444			205,808	167,366
Consolidated net income	535,583	$ (1,394)	$ 339,145	525,699	$ 365,113	$ 123,294	873,333	1,014,105
Assets	58,843,499						58,843,499		$ 58,239,212
Utility [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	3,191,240			2,689,186			8,461,241	6,996,876
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	159,472			143,622			290,566	164,383
Consolidated net income	574,399			555,583			1,264,933	1,228,333
Assets	58,948,010						58,948,010		55,940,153
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	162,275			214,371			559,150	746,629
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	8,836			12,321			(47,299)	6,249
Consolidated net income	26,064			30,773			(210,460)	5,523
Assets	1,238,200						1,238,200		3,800,378
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	24			25			77	54
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	(10,026)			(6,499)			(37,459)	(3,266)
Consolidated net income	(32,982)			(28,758)			(85,445)	(124,056)
Assets	698,699						698,699		552,632
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	(7)			(14)			(28)	(25)
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	0			0			0	0
Consolidated net income	(31,898)			$ (31,899)			(95,695)	$ (95,695)
Assets	$ (2,041,410)						$ (2,041,410)		$ (2,053,951)