Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	COMMON STOCK	[1]	MEMBERSHIP INTEREST	[1]	RETAINED EARNINGS/ (ACCUMULATED DEFICIT)	AOCI	CLECO POWER	CLECO POWER MEMBER’S EQUITY	CLECO POWER AOCI
Balance, beginning (PREDECESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 1,674,841	$ 456,412				$ 1,245,014	$ (26,585)
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2015									$ 1,552,404	$ 1,569,496	$ (17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued for compensatory plans | PREDECESSOR		(1,277)	(1,277)
Dividends on common stock, $0.40 per share | PREDECESSOR		(24,190)					(24,190)
Net income (loss) | PREDECESSOR		(3,960)					(3,960)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | PREDECESSOR		647						647
Balance, ending (PREDECESSOR) at Apr. 12, 2016		1,646,061	455,135				1,216,864	(25,938)
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Apr. 12, 2016								0
Balance, beginning (PREDECESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2015		1,674,841	456,412				1,245,014	(26,585)
Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2015									1,552,404	1,569,496	(17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Contribution from member									50,000	50,000
Distributions to member									(110,000)	(110,000)
Net income (loss)									39,128	39,128
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									3,670		3,670
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2016		2,046,763			$ 2,069,376		(24,113)	1,500
Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2016									1,535,202	1,548,624	(13,422)
Balance, beginning (PREDECESSOR) at Apr. 12, 2016		1,646,061	$ 455,135				1,216,864	(25,938)
Balance, beginning (SUCCESSOR) at Apr. 12, 2016								0
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) | SUCCESSOR		(24,113)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | SUCCESSOR		1,500
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2016		2,046,763			2,069,376		(24,113)	1,500
Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2016									1,535,202	1,548,624	(13,422)
Balance, beginning (SUCCESSOR) at Apr. 13, 2016	[2]	2,158,141			2,158,141		0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Distributions to member | SUCCESSOR		(88,765)			(88,765)
Net income (loss) | SUCCESSOR		(24,113)					(24,113)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | SUCCESSOR		1,500						1,500
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2016		2,046,763			2,069,376		(24,113)	1,500
Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2016									1,535,202	1,548,624	(13,422)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Distributions to member | SUCCESSOR		(84,065)					(84,065)
Distributions to member									(135,000)	(135,000)
Net income (loss) | SUCCESSOR		138,080					138,080
Net income (loss)									150,738	150,738
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | SUCCESSOR		(4,421)						(4,421)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(261)		(261)
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2017		2,096,357			2,069,376		29,902	(2,921)
Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2017		2,096,357							1,550,679	1,564,362	(13,683)
Increase (Decrease) in Equity [Roll Forward]
Distributions to member | SUCCESSOR		(71,350)					(71,350)
Distributions to member									(121,400)	(121,400)
Net income (loss) | SUCCESSOR		94,437					94,437
Net income (loss)									162,257	162,257
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | SUCCESSOR		5,296						5,296
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									2,997		2,997
Reclassification of effect of tax rate change | SUCCESSOR		(589)					589	(589)
Reclassification of effect of tax rate change								(600)	(2,496)	2,496	(2,500)
Balance, ending (SUCCESSOR) at Dec. 31, 2018		2,124,740			$ 2,069,376		$ 53,578	$ 1,786
Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 2,124,740							$ 1,594,533	$ 1,607,715	$ (13,182)

[1] At April 12, 2016, and December 31, 2015, shareholders’ equity of the predecessor company included $61.1 million of common stock. At April 12, 2016, and December 31, 2015, shareholders’ equity of the predecessor company included premium on common stock of $414.6 million and $418.5 million, respectively. At April 12, 2016, and December 31, 2015, shareholders’ equity of the predecessor company included treasury stock of $20.5 million and $23.2 million, respectively.

[2] The April 13, 2016, beginning balance of the successor company differs from the April 12, 2016, ending balances of the predecessor company due to acquisition accounting adjustments related to the 2016 Merger.