Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Apr. 12, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cleco Power [Member]
Net (loss) income	$ 52,572		$ 58,661		$ 12,222	$ 119,080
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax [Abstract]
Postretirement benefits (loss) gain, net of tax	2,180		218		2,561	419
Net gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax	53		53		159	159
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	2,233		271		2,720	578
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	54,805		58,932		$ 14,942	119,658
Successor [Member]
Net (loss) income	39,621			$ (42,294)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax [Abstract]
Postretirement benefits (loss) gain, net of tax	(2,305)			(2,305)
Net gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax	0			0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(2,305)			(2,305)
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	$ 37,316			$ (44,599)
Predecessor [Member]
Net (loss) income		$ (3,960)	54,663			111,819
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax [Abstract]
Postretirement benefits (loss) gain, net of tax		587	586			1,851
Net gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax		60	53			159
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		647	639			2,010
Comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax		$ (3,313)	$ 55,302			$ 113,829