Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees	$ 18,172	$ 18,172		$ 18,172		$ 18,672
Components of Equity Method Investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	18,172	18,172		18,172		18,672
Cleco Power
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees	18,172	18,172		18,172		18,672
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions, Return of Capital	500
Components of Equity Method Investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873	12,873		12,873		12,873
Cash contributions	6,399	6,399		6,399		6,399
Dividend received	(1,100)	(1,100)		(1,100)		(600)
Total equity investment in investee	18,172	18,172		18,172		18,672
Comparison of Carrying Amount of Assets and Liabilities to Maximum Loss Exposure [Abstract]
Oxbow's net assets/liabilities	36,344	36,344		36,344		37,345
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Operating revenue		532	$ 1,526	1,605	$ 3,627
Operating expenses		532	1,526	1,605	3,627
Income before taxes		0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Cleco Power | Oxbow
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	18,172	18,172		$ 18,172		18,672
Cleco Power’s maximum exposure to loss	$ 18,172	$ 18,172		$ 18,172		$ 18,672