Fair Value Accounting, Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cleco Power [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt	$ 1,242,137	$ 1,265,529
Cleco Power [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt	1,461,566	1,429,989
Successor [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt	2,772,068
Successor [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt	$ 2,859,558
Predecessor [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt		1,299,529
Predecessor [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Long-term debt		$ 1,463,989