Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees - New Markets Tax Credits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2008
New Markets Tax Credit [Line Items]
Useful life	10 years
Cleco Holdings
New Markets Tax Credit [Line Items]
Membership interest in U.S Bank New Markets Tax Credit Fund		99.90%
Equity contributions to be made to the Fund	$ 285.5
Net tax benefits to be received from the Fund	303.8
Difference between equity contributions and total benefits received will be recognized over the life of the Fund as net tax benefits	$ 1.6
USBCDC
New Markets Tax Credit [Line Items]
Membership interest in U.S Bank New Markets Tax Credit Fund		0.10%