Regulatory Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Regulatory Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets, net	$ 328,537	$ 307,374
CLECO POWER
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets, net	165,947	134,755
CLECO POWER | Deferred taxes, net
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	(144,124)	(155,537)
CLECO POWER | Energy efficiency
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	(3,056)
CLECO POWER | Other, net
Regulatory Liabilities [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	$ (8,048)	$ (4,979)