Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Membership Interest [Member]	Retained Earnings / (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	AOCI [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Members Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] AOCI [Member]
Balances, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015							$ (17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income					$ 12,222
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax					2,720		2,720
Balances, end of period at Sep. 30, 2016				$ (2,305)			(14,372)
Balances, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2016				0			(16,605)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	$ 39,621				52,572
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(2,305)			(2,305)	2,233		2,233
Balances, end of period at Sep. 30, 2016				(2,305)			(14,372)
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	(83,955)	(83,955)			(75,000)	(75,000)
Net (loss) income	77,041		77,041		108,439	108,439
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(2,175)			(2,175)	99		99
Balances, end of period at Sep. 30, 2017	2,037,674	1,985,421	52,928	(675)	1,568,740	1,582,063	(13,323)
Balances, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2017				(631)			(13,543)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	45,304				54,852
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(44)			(44)	220		220
Balances, end of period at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 2,037,674	$ 1,985,421	$ 52,928	$ (675)	$ 1,568,740	$ 1,582,063	$ (13,323)