Equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 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	$ (430,404)	$ (613,642)	$ (430,404)	$ (613,642)	$ (551,152)		$ (557,173)	$ (561,498)		$ (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	115,193	(70,490)	157,043	(35,200)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	5,555	18,346	(23,468)	62,201
Other comprehensive income (loss)	120,748	(52,144)	133,575	27,001
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	26,736	(8,842)	26,736	(8,842)	12,466		(2,116)	(6,201)		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	15,834	(7,509)	29,373	(43,785)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(1,564)	4,868	(1,400)	8,288
Other comprehensive income (loss)	14,270	(2,641)	27,973	(35,497)
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)			133,575	27,001
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	(508,876)	(589,926)	(508,876)	(589,926)	(520,372)		(531,922)	(605,491)		(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	11,496	15,565	23,046	32,139
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,496	15,565	23,046	32,139
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	51,736	(14,874)	51,736	(14,874)	(43,246)		(23,135)	50,194		(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	99,359	(62,981)	127,670	8,585
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(4,377)	(2,087)	(45,114)	21,774
Other comprehensive income (loss)	94,982	(65,068)	82,556	30,359
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	(8,091)		(8,091)				(6,153)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(969)	(501)	(1,938)	(1,002)
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)			(1,938)	(1,002)
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	(8,091)	(57,451)	(8,091)	(57,451)	$ (7,122)		$ (6,153)	$ (56,950)		$ (46,400)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	(969)	(501)	(1,938)	(1,002)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (969)	$ (501)	(1,938)	(1,002)
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)