Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees	$ 18,672		$ 18,672
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	18,672		18,672
Cleco Power [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees	18,672		18,672
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873		12,873
Cash contributions	6,399		6,399
Dividend received	(600)		(600)
Total equity investment in investee	18,672		18,672
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Partners' capital	37,345		37,345
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Operating revenue	1,073	$ 2,101
Operating expenses	1,073	2,101
Income before taxes	$ 0	$ 0
Oxbow [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by Cleco Power (in hundredths)	50.00%
Ownership percentage by other parties (in hundredths)	50.00%
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Cleco Power’s 50% equity	$ 18,672		18,672
Cleco Power’s maximum exposure to loss	$ 18,672		$ 18,672