Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 12, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating expenses
Operating income (Loss)	$ 50,004	$ 86,110	$ 63,709	$ 44,734	$ 52,702	$ 97,790	$ 73,270	$ 41,462
Net income (loss)	$ 10,377	$ 47,360	$ 25,839	$ 10,861	$ 61,040	$ 45,304	$ 25,444	$ 6,292
SUCCESSOR
Operating expenses
Merger transaction costs											$ 174,786	$ 19,514	$ 5,152
Total operating expenses											808,096	986,487	910,419
Operating income (Loss)											44,909	244,557	265,227
Other income											3,350	1,515	6,474
Other expense											(10,003)	(15,843)	(13,373)
Income (loss) before income taxes											(46,935)	123,819	145,159
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)											(22,822)	29,382	7,079
Net income (loss)										$ (24,113)	(24,113)	94,437	138,080
SUCCESSOR | Cleco Holdings
Operating expenses
Administrative and general											285	1,269	602
Merger transaction costs											23,301	19,514	5,152
Other operating expense											(382)	318	260
Total operating expenses											23,204	21,101	6,014
Operating income (Loss)											(23,204)	(21,101)	(6,014)
Equity income from subsidiaries, net of tax											9,357	149,543	170,706
Interest, net											(35,151)	(54,635)	(53,684)
Other income											1,948	650	3,978
Other expense											0	(2,337)	0
Income (loss) before income taxes											(47,050)	72,120	114,986
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)											(22,937)	(22,317)	(23,094)
Net income (loss)											$ (24,113)	$ 94,437	$ 138,080
PREDECESSOR
Operating expenses
Merger transaction costs									$ 34,912
Total operating expenses									276,060
Operating income (Loss)									23,810
Other income									870
Other expense									(4,037)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(492)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)									3,468
Net income (loss)									(3,960)
PREDECESSOR | Cleco Holdings
Operating expenses
Administrative and general									319
Merger transaction costs									34,912
Other operating expense									624
Total operating expenses									35,855
Operating income (Loss)									(35,855)
Equity income from subsidiaries, net of tax									21,789
Interest, net									(286)
Other income									702
Other expense									0
Income (loss) before income taxes									(13,650)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)									(9,690)
Net income (loss)									$ (3,960)