Business Segment Information (Segment Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,666,209	$ 2,668,770	$ 5,275,792	$ 5,392,650
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	1,458	(280,596)	44,229	(236,933)
Consolidated net income	240,533	248,860	499,180	385,059
Assets	50,565,745		50,565,745		$ 48,275,066
Utility [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,376,437	2,360,208	4,552,419	4,665,197
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	21,150	(240,324)	9,586	(188,100)
Consolidated net income	334,752	378,394	568,900	596,333
Assets	47,297,832		47,297,832		44,777,167
Entergy Wholesale Commodities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	289,783	308,602	723,394	727,526
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	(9,290)	(30,144)	56,618	(31,222)
Consolidated net income	(25,382)	(56,337)	71,697	(74,116)
Assets	5,211,771		5,211,771		5,459,275
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2	0	2	0
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	(10,402)	(10,128)	(21,975)	(17,611)
Consolidated net income	(36,939)	(41,299)	(77,620)	(73,361)
Assets	493,962		493,962		733,366
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	(13)	(40)	(23)	(73)
Segment Financial Information
Income taxes (benefits)	0	0	0	0
Consolidated net income	(31,898)	$ (31,898)	(63,797)	$ (63,797)
Assets	$ (2,437,820)		$ (2,437,820)		$ (2,694,742)