Disclosures about Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) entity	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries | entity	2
Revenue [Abstract]
Net (loss) income	$ 6,292
Equity investment in investees	18,672		$ 18,672
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797	$ 1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,335,981		6,343,144
Predecessor [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations		$ 250,157
Other operations		17,132
Electric customer credits		(321)
Affiliate revenue		0
Operating revenue, net		266,968
Depreciation and amortization		38,938
Merger transaction and commitment costs		1,522
Interest charges		19,553
Interest income		224
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense		12,137
Net (loss) income		19,368
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		35,476
Predecessor [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations		250,157
Other operations		16,614
Electric customer credits		(321)
Affiliate revenue		232
Operating revenue, net		266,682
Depreciation and amortization		38,603
Merger transaction and commitment costs		0
Interest charges		19,285
Interest income		179
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense		12,563
Net (loss) income		20,879
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		35,453
Predecessor [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations		0
Other operations		518
Electric customer credits		0
Affiliate revenue		13,024
Operating revenue, net		13,542
Depreciation and amortization		335
Merger transaction and commitment costs		1,539
Interest charges		278
Interest income		55
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense		(426)
Net (loss) income		(1,511)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		23
Predecessor [Member] | Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations		0
Other operations		0
Electric customer credits		0
Affiliate revenue		(13,256)
Operating revenue, net		(13,256)
Depreciation and amortization		0
Merger transaction and commitment costs		(17)
Interest charges		(10)
Interest income		(10)
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense		0
Net (loss) income		0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		$ 0
Successor [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	234,056
Other operations	16,880
Electric customer credits	(435)
Affiliate revenue	0
Operating revenue, net	250,501
Depreciation and amortization	40,851
Merger transaction and commitment costs	99
Interest charges	31,718
Interest income	312
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	3,107
Net (loss) income	6,292
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	47,890
Equity investment in investees	18,672		18,672
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,335,981		6,343,144
Successor [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	237,553
Other operations	16,365
Electric customer credits	(435)
Affiliate revenue	219
Operating revenue, net	253,702
Depreciation and amortization	38,758
Merger transaction and commitment costs	0
Interest charges	18,104
Interest income	266
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	9,855
Net (loss) income	17,854
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	46,744
Equity investment in investees	18,672		18,672
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total segment assets	5,748,503		5,758,245
Successor [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	(3,497)
Other operations	515
Electric customer credits	0
Affiliate revenue	14,734
Operating revenue, net	11,752
Depreciation and amortization	2,093
Merger transaction and commitment costs	99
Interest charges	13,681
Interest income	113
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	(6,748)
Net (loss) income	(11,562)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	1,146
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	621,406		614,959
Successor [Member] | Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	0
Other operations	0
Electric customer credits	0
Affiliate revenue	(14,953)
Operating revenue, net	(14,953)
Depreciation and amortization	0
Merger transaction and commitment costs	0
Interest charges	(67)
Interest income	(67)
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	0
Net (loss) income	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	$ (33,928)		$ (30,060)