Pension Plan and Employee Benefits - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 12, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discretionary contribution	$ 12,300,000
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		$ 3,044,000	$ 4,709,000	$ 9,132,000	$ 14,126,000
Other Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		868,000	793,000	2,156,000	2,192,000
Assets held-in-trust, noncurrent		0		0
SERP
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		1,260,000	1,593,000	3,780,000	4,779,000
CLECO POWER | Other Benefits Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		900,000	900,000	2,300,000	2,500,000
CLECO POWER | SERP
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		200,000	400,000	600,000	1,100,000
Other Subsidiaries | Pension Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan contributions by employer		$ 500,000	$ 500,000	$ 1,600,000	$ 1,500,000