Consolidated Statements Of Capitalization - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Essential Utilities stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.50 par value	$ 111,935	$ 90,576
Capital in excess of par value	2,636,555	820,378
Retained earnings	1,210,072	1,174,245
Treasury stock, at cost	(77,702)	(75,835)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Total stockholders' equity	3,880,860	2,009,364
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Long-term debt	1,887,117	1,604,233
Total long-term debt	3,077,400	2,563,660
Current portion of long-term debt	105,051	144,545
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	2,972,349	2,419,115
Less: debt issuance costs	29,022	20,651
Long-term debt, excluding current portion, net of debt issuance costs	2,943,327	2,398,464
Total capitalization	6,824,187	4,407,828
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 0.00% to 0.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	3,474	3,732
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 1.00% to 1.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	10,733	11,588
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 2.00% to 2.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	15,674	17,488
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 3.00% to 3.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	655,685	497,426
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 4.00% to 4.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	1,054,791	831,066
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 5.00% to 5.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	60,683	154,788
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 6.00% to 6.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	31,000	31,000
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 7.00% to 7.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	30,751	31,564
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 8.00% to 8.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	5,026	5,581
Long Term Debt of Subsidiaries 9.00% to 9.99% [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Debt instrument principal outstanding	19,300	20,000
Notes payable to bank under revolving credit agreement, variable rate, due 2023 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Notes payable to bank under revolving credit agreement, variable rate, due 2023		370,000
Bank note at 2.48% due 2019 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable		50,000
Bank note at 3.50% due 2020 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	50,000	50,000
Amortizing Notes at 3.00% due 2022 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	99,356
Notes Ranging From 3.01% and 3.59% due 2029 and 2041 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	490,000	245,000
Notes at 4.28%, due 2049 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	500,000	112,000
Notes Ranging From 5.20% To 5.95%, due 2020 through 2034 [Member]
Long-term debt of subsidiaries (substantially collateralized by utility plant):
Unsecured notes payable	$ 50,927	$ 132,427