Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Deferred Project Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cleco Power [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Deferred costs for projects that are in the initial states of development	$ 5.0	$ 4.6

Gross amount of other deferred costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period. Does not include deferred finance costs or deferred acquisition costs of insurance companies.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_OtherDeferredCostsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant