Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Property, Plant, and Equipment (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Apr. 13, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation		$ 0
Successor [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Utility plants	$ 3,387,712,000
Other	14,713,000
Total property, plant and equipment	3,402,425,000
Accumulated depreciation	(47,134,000)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,355,291,000
Predecessor [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Utility plants			$ 4,645,698,000
Other			15,514,000
Total property, plant and equipment			4,661,212,000
Accumulated depreciation			(1,536,158,000)
Net property, plant, and equipment			3,125,054,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Utility plants	4,718,236,000		4,645,698,000
Total property, plant and equipment	4,718,236,000		4,645,698,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,593,398,000)		(1,525,298,000)
Net property, plant, and equipment	$ 3,124,838,000		$ 3,120,400,000