Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax								$ (632,617)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		$ (632,126)		$ 111,678	$ (632,126)	$ 111,678	$ (613,642)		$ (23,531)	$ 52,773	$ (34,971)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(47,574)		63,514	(82,774)	197,174
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		29,090		(4,609)	91,291	(50,525)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(18,484)		58,905	8,517	146,649
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect	[1]				(16,538)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects			$ 15,500		15,505
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				0		0					748
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax						(748)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						0
Other comprehensive income (loss)						(748)
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax								(632,617)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(10,587)		512,652	(10,587)	512,652	(8,842)		545,045	479,257	429,734
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(7,173)		35,630	(50,958)	109,372
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		5,428		(2,235)	13,716	(26,454)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,745)		33,395	(37,242)	82,918
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects					114,227
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax								0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(574,661)		(437,601)	(574,661)	(437,601)	(589,926)		(531,099)	(449,898)	(469,446)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		0		0	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		15,265		12,297	47,404	31,845
Other comprehensive income (loss)		15,265		12,297	47,404	31,845
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]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, after Tax								0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(46,878)		36,627	(46,878)	36,627	(14,874)		(37,477)	23,414	3,993
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax		(40,401)		27,884	(31,816)	88,550
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		8,397		(14,671)	30,171	(55,916)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(32,004)		13,213	(1,645)	32,634
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		(57,951)			(57,951)				(46,400)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(500)		(370)	(1,502)	(1,050)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect					(3,787)
Entergy Louisiana [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(57,951)		(49,492)	(57,951)	(49,492)	$ (57,451)		$ (46,400)	$ (49,122)	$ (48,442)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax		(500)		(370)	(1,502)	(1,050)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		$ (500)		$ (370)	(1,502)	(1,050)
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI resulting from stranded tax effects					$ (10,049)	$ 0
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss								(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								(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								(531,099)
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								$ (37,477)

[1] (a) Consolidated net income and preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries for 2018 and 2017 include $10.3 million and $10.3 million, respectively, of preferred dividends on subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund that is not presented within equity.