Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees		$ 18,172		$ 18,172		$ 18,672
Components of Equity Method Investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee		18,172		18,172		18,672
Cleco Power [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees		18,172		18,172		18,672
Return of equity investment	$ 500
Components of Equity Method Investments [Abstract]
Purchase price		12,873		12,873		12,873
Cash contributions		6,399		6,399		6,399
Dividend received		(1,100)		(1,100)		(600)
Total equity investment in investee		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		37,345
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract]
Operating revenue		392	$ 1,034	1,997	$ 4,661
Operating expenses		392	1,034	1,997	4,661
Income before taxes		0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Cleco Power [Member] | 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		18,672
Cleco Power’s maximum exposure to loss		$ 18,172		$ 18,172		$ 18,672