Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 25, 2016
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	$ 14,150		$ 23,084
Total non-current	23,554		23,410
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	37,704		46,494
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	3,432		9,213
Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	1,200		1,200
Total non-current	4,126		4,179
Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	9,518		12,671
Total non-current	1,831		1,831
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	21		21
Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	17,576		17,379
Katrina Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	5,200
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(9,100)
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(1,900)
Cleco Power [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	14,150		23,084
Total non-current	23,533		23,389
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	37,683		46,473
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(8,790)	$ (4,088)
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	3,432		9,213
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	1,200		1,200
Total non-current	4,126		4,179
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents				$ 6,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(700)
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	9,518		12,671
Total non-current	1,831		1,831
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents				$ 136,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(124,700)
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	$ 17,576		$ 17,379