| Document and Entity Information | Mar. 13, 2020 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Amendment Flag | true |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000078128 |
| Document Type | 8-K/A |
| Document Period End Date | Mar. 13, 2020 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Essential Utilities, Inc. |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | PA |
| Entity File Number | 001-06659 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 23-1702594 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 762 West Lancaster Avenue |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Bryn Mawr |
| Entity Address, State or Province | PA |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 19010-3489 |
| City Area Code | 610 |
| Local Phone Number | 527-8000 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Amendment Description | As previously reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2020 and amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 18, 2020 (together, the “Initial Form 8-K”), on March 16, 2020, Essential Utilities, Inc. (the “Company”) completed the acquisition from LDC Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), of all of the issued and outstanding limited liability company membership interests of LDC Funding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LDC Funding”), from Seller (the “Peoples Gas Acquisition”). LDC Funding is the ultimate parent of Peoples Natural Gas Company LLC (“Peoples Natural”), Peoples Gas Company LLC (“Peoples Gas”), Delta Natural Gas Company Inc. (“Delta”), Peoples Gas WV LLC, Peoples Gas KY LLC, Peoples Homeworks LLC, PNG Gathering LLC, Delta Resources LLC, Delgasco LLC and Enpro LLC, and collectively these businesses are referred to as “Peoples”. The Peoples Gas Acquisition was completed in accordance with the terms of the previously announced Purchase Agreement, entered into on October 22, 2018 and disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 23, 2018, between the Company and the Seller (the “Purchase Agreement”).Peoples Natural, Peoples Gas, Delta, Peoples Gas WV LLC and Peoples Gas KY LLC are also collectively referred to as “the regulated companies.”Peoples Homeworks LLC, PNG Gathering LLC, Delta Resources LLC, Delgasco LLC and Enpro LLC are also collectively referred to as the “non-regulated companies.”This Form 8-K/A amends the Initial Form 8-K to include the financial statements and pro forma financial information required by Items 9.01(a) and 9.01(b) of Form 8-K, as well as additional information regarding Peoples, and should be read in conjunction with the Initial Form 8-K. |
| Common stock, $.50 par value | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common stock, $.50 par value |
| Trading Symbol | WTRG |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| 6.00% Tangible Equity Units | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Title of 12(b) Security | 6.00% Tangible Equity Units |
| Trading Symbol | WTRU |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
