Dividend or interest rate associated with the financial instrument issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash or part noncash transaction. Noncash are transactions that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments. Part noncash refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments.

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The rate of interest that was being paid on the original debt issue that is being converted in the noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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No definition available.

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The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 28, 2017	Mar. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	May 17, 2016	Mar. 31, 2008
Cleco Katrina Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61, due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt amount						$ 180,600
Cleco Katrina Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61, due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt amount						$ 113,000
Interest rate, stated percentage (in hundredths)						4.41%
Repayment of Senior Notes through cash		$ 1,100
Interest Expense, Debt		$ 100
Cleco Holdings [Member] \| Cleco Holdings' senior notes, 4.973%, due 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt amount					$ 350,000
Interest rate, stated percentage (in hundredths)					4.973%
Cleco Holdings [Member] \| Cleco Corporate Holdings debt, variable rate, due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt amount					$ 1,350,000
Cleco Holdings [Member] \| Cleco Holdings' senior notes, 3.743%, due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt amount					$ 535,000
Interest rate, stated percentage (in hundredths)					3.743%
Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of Senior Notes through cash			$ 9,060	$ 8,546
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Cleco Holdings [Member] \| Cleco Holdings' senior notes, 4.973%, due 2046 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on original debt (in hundredths)	4.973%
Interest rate on converted debt (in hundredths)	4.973%
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Cleco Holdings [Member] \| Cleco Holdings' senior notes, 3.743%, due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on original debt (in hundredths)	3.743%
Interest rate on converted debt (in hundredths)	3.743%