Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Membership Interest [Member]	Retained Earnings / (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	AOCI [Member]	Cleco Power	Cleco Power Members Equity [Member]	Cleco Power AOCI [Member]
Balances, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015							$ (17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income					$ (40,350)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax					487		487
Balances, end of period at Jun. 30, 2016							(16,605)
Balances, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2016							(16,839)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income					(61,229)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax					234		234
Balances, end of period at Jun. 30, 2016							(16,605)
Balances, beginning of period 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 to member	(55,655)	(55,655)			(60,000)	(60,000)
Net (loss) income	31,736		31,736		53,587	53,587
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(2,131)			(2,131)	(121)		(121)
Balances, end of period at Jun. 30, 2017	2,020,713	2,013,721	7,623	(631)	1,528,668	1,542,211	(13,543)
Balances, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2017							(13,789)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income					35,733
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax					246		246
Balances, end of period at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 2,020,713	$ 2,013,721	$ 7,623	$ (631)	$ 1,528,668	$ 1,542,211	$ (13,543)