Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Apr. 12, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Apr. 25, 2016	Mar. 14, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Katrina Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash				$ 9,900
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	$ (8,500)
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	$ (2,300)
Successor [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		$ 144,150		144,150
Total non-current		24,291		24,291
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents		168,441		168,441
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash		147,830
Successor [Member] | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		8,348		8,348
Successor [Member] | Cleco Power's sale of property
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		1,299		1,299
Successor [Member] | Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		1,200		1,200
Total non-current		4,803		4,803
Successor [Member] | Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		133,303		133,303
Total non-current		2,698		2,698
Successor [Member] | Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current		21		21
Successor [Member] | Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current		16,769		16,769
Predecessor [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current								$ 9,263
Total non-current								16,195
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents								25,458
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash			$ (4,847)		$ 41
Predecessor [Member] | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current								9,263
Predecessor [Member] | Cleco Power's sale of property
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current								0
Predecessor [Member] | Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current								0
Total non-current								0
Predecessor [Member] | Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current								0
Total non-current								0
Predecessor [Member] | Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current								21
Predecessor [Member] | Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current								16,174
Cleco Power [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		144,150		144,150				9,263
Total non-current		24,270		24,270				16,174
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents		168,420		168,420				25,437
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash				142,983	$ 41
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		8,348		8,348				9,263
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power's sale of property
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		1,299		1,299			$ 1,300	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		1,200		1,200				0
Total non-current		4,803		4,803				0
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents						$ 6,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current		133,303		133,303				0
Total non-current		2,698		2,698				0
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents						$ 136,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current		$ 16,769		$ 16,769				$ 16,174