Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Membership Interest [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	AOCI [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] AOCI [Member]
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2014					$ (32,665)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014								$ (17,288)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income | Predecessor [Member]	$ 111,819
Net (loss) income						$ 119,080
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Predecessor [Member]	2,010				2,010
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						578		578
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2015					(30,655)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2015								(16,710)
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2015					(31,294)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2015								(16,981)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income | Predecessor [Member]	54,663
Net (loss) income						58,661
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Predecessor [Member]	639				639
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						271		271
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2015					(30,655)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2015								(16,710)
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2015	1,674,841	$ 456,412		$ 1,245,014	(26,585)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015						1,552,404	$ 1,569,496	(17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued for compensatory plans | Predecessor [Member]	(1,277)	(1,277)
Dividends on common stock | Predecessor [Member]	(24,190)			(24,190)
Net (loss) income | Predecessor [Member]	(3,960)			(3,960)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Predecessor [Member]	647				647
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Apr. 12, 2016	1,646,061	455,135		1,216,864	(25,938)
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2015	1,674,841	456,412		1,245,014	(26,585)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015						1,552,404	1,569,496	(17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Contributions from parent						50,000	50,000
Distribution made to member						(85,000)	(85,000)
Net (loss) income						12,222	12,222
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						2,720		2,720
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2016	2,057,542		$ 2,102,141	(42,294)	(2,305)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2016						1,532,346	1,546,718	(14,372)
Balances (Predecessor [Member]) at Apr. 12, 2016	1,646,061	$ 455,135		1,216,864	(25,938)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income | Successor [Member]	(42,294)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Successor [Member]	(2,305)				(2,305)
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2016	2,057,542		2,102,141	(42,294)	(2,305)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2016						1,532,346	1,546,718	(14,372)
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Apr. 13, 2016	2,158,141		2,158,141	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Distribution made to member | Successor [Member]	(56,000)		(56,000)
Net (loss) income | Successor [Member]	(42,294)			(42,294)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Successor [Member]	(2,305)				(2,305)
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2016	2,057,542		2,102,141	(42,294)	(2,305)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2016						1,532,346	1,546,718	(14,372)
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Jun. 30, 2016					0
Balances at Jun. 30, 2016								(16,605)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income | Successor [Member]	39,621
Net (loss) income						52,572
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | Successor [Member]	(2,305)				(2,305)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						2,233		2,233
Balances (Successor [Member]) at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 2,057,542		$ 2,102,141	$ (42,294)	$ (2,305)
Balances at Sep. 30, 2016						$ 1,532,346	$ 1,546,718	$ (14,372)