Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	14 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 25, 2016
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	$ 16,991		$ 16,991	$ 16,991	$ 23,084
Total non-current	23,500		23,500	23,500	23,410
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	40,491		40,491	40,491	46,494
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	8,794		8,794	8,794	9,213
Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	1,200		1,200	1,200	1,200
Total non-current	3,835		3,835	3,835	4,179
Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	6,997		6,997	6,997	12,671
Total non-current	1,862		1,862	1,862	1,831
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	21		21	21	21
Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	17,782		17,782	17,782	17,379
Katrina Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	10,600
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(9,100)
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(1,900)
Cleco Power
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	16,991		16,991	16,991	23,084
Total non-current	23,479		23,479	23,479	23,389
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	40,470		40,470	40,470	46,473
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(6,003)	$ 142,983
Cleco Power | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	8,794		8,794	8,794	9,213
Cleco Power | Cleco Power's charitable contributions [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	1,200		1,200	1,200	1,200
Total non-current	3,835		3,835	3,835	4,179
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents						$ 6,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash				(1,000)
Cleco Power | Cleco Power's rate credit escrow [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	6,997		6,997	6,997	12,671
Total non-current	1,862		1,862	1,862	1,831
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents						$ 136,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash			(127,200)
Cleco Power | Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	$ 17,782		$ 17,782	$ 17,782	$ 17,379