Intangible Assets and Goodwill - Schedule of Amortization of Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Cleco Katrina/Rita right to bill and collect storm recovery charges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 5,623	$ 4,643	$ 15,617	$ 12,837
Trade name
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	64	64	191	191
Power supply agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	2,420	2,420	7,260	8,337
Cleco Power \| Cleco Katrina/Rita right to bill and collect storm recovery charges
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 5,623	$ 4,643	$ 15,617	$ 12,837

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

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