Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee		$ 18,172	$ 18,672
Cleco Power [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Return of investment in Oxbow	$ 500
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price		12,873	12,873
Cash contributions		6,399	6,399
Dividend received		(1,100)	(600)
Total equity investment in investee		18,172	18,672
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets		2,318	886
Total assets		38,160	37,721
Current liabilities		1,815	376
Partners' capital		36,345	37,345
Total liabilities and partners' capital		38,160	37,721
Operating revenue		4,189	5,459	$ 3,991
Operating expenses		4,189	5,459	3,991
Income before taxes		$ 0	0	$ 0
Cleco Power [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (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	18,672
Cleco Power's maximum exposure to loss		18,172	18,672
Cleco Power [Member] | Property, plant, and equipment, net [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Noncurrent Asset		25,656	25,864
Cleco Power [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Noncurrent Asset		$ 10,186	$ 10,971