Leases - Operating Leases (Details) - Mar. 31, 2019	Total	municipality	non_municipal_public_body	railcar	towboat
CLECO POWER
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease, number of lessors		2	1
CLECO POWER | Utility Systems | Municipality One
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease term	10 years
CLECO POWER | Utility Systems | Municipality Two
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease term	10 years
CLECO POWER | Utility Systems | Non-Municipal Public Body
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease term	27 years
CLECO POWER | Railcars
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease, number of leased assets				200
CLECO POWER | Railcars | Operating Lease, Expiring March 31, 2021
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease, number of leased assets				115
CLECO POWER | Railcars | Operating Lease, Expiring March 31, 2020
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease, number of leased assets				85
CLECO POWER | Towboats
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease term	10 years
Operating lease, number of leased assets | towboat					3
Operating lease renewal term	5 years
Cleco Cajun | Railcars
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease term	12 months
Operating lease, number of leased assets				135
Operating lease renewal term	1 month