Affiliate Transactions (Details) - Cleco Power - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	$ 753	$ 1,406
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,119	7,190
Cleco Group [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	48	3
Accounts payable - affiliate	82	119
Support Group [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	671	1,402
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,037	7,071
Subsidiary of Common Parent [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	34	1
Accounts payable - affiliate	$ 0	$ 0