Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Membership Interest [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	AOCI [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] AOCI [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015							$ (17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income					$ 20,879
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax					253		253
Balances at Mar. 31, 2016							(16,839)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,046,763	$ 2,069,376	$ (24,113)	$ 1,500	1,535,202	$ 1,548,624	(13,422)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Distributions made to member	(28,955)	(28,955)			(35,000)	(35,000)
Net (loss) income	6,292		6,292		17,854	17,854
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(2,191)			(2,191)	(367)		(367)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2017	$ 2,021,909	$ 2,040,421	$ (17,821)	$ (691)	$ 1,517,689	$ 1,531,478	$ (13,789)