Affiliate Transactions (Details) - Cleco Power [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	$ 1,378	$ 1,406
Accounts payable - affiliate	9,367	7,190
Cleco Group [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1	3
Accounts payable - affiliate	176	119
Support Group [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,377	1,402
Accounts payable - affiliate	9,191	7,071
Subsidiary of Common Parent [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	0	1
Accounts payable - affiliate	$ 0	$ 0