Disclosures about Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Apr. 13, 2016
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 451,902	$ 341,062	$ 1,130,318	$ 897,486
Other operations	49,780	20,186	131,544	61,067
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(13,711)	(2,992)	(31,832)	(24,276)
Operating revenue, net	487,971	358,256	1,230,030	934,277
Depreciation and amortization	57,004	43,763	158,395	128,076
Interest income	1,690	1,832	4,456	4,043
Interest charges	35,832	31,828	105,671	94,894
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	14,088	11,419	32,355	21,947
Net income (loss)	55,565	47,360	120,868	84,060
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			251,845	194,619
Equity investment in investees	17,672		17,672		$ 18,172
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797		1,490,797	$ 1,490,000
Total segment assets	7,498,373		7,498,373		6,436,814
Operating Segments | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	339,869	343,482	862,969	904,746
Other operations	18,485	20,186	53,318	61,066
Affiliate revenue	334	223	971	651
Electric customer credits	(13,711)	(2,992)	(30,565)	(24,276)
Operating revenue, net	344,977	360,899	886,693	942,187
Depreciation and amortization	44,903	41,687	126,610	121,796
Interest income	1,421	1,606	3,281	3,560
Interest charges	17,983	17,895	52,498	53,658
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	12,431	18,016	34,407	39,724
Net income (loss)	51,527	63,336	127,595	132,359
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			247,987	193,708
Equity investment in investees	17,672		17,672		18,172
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797		1,490,797
Total segment assets	5,988,444		5,988,444		5,839,853
Operating Segments | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	114,453		274,610
Other operations	33,737		83,619
Affiliate revenue	31		31
Electric customer credits	0		(1,267)
Operating revenue, net	148,221		356,993
Depreciation and amortization	10,009		25,555
Interest income	220		842
Interest charges	0		0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	7,612		15,169
Net income (loss)	22,806		46,788
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			3,654
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	998,289		998,289
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(2,420)	(2,420)	(7,260)	(7,260)
Other operations	0	0	2	1
Affiliate revenue	28,252	22,765	77,800	55,707
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	25,832	20,345	70,542	48,448
Depreciation and amortization	2,092	2,076	6,231	6,281
Interest income	228	310	841	652
Interest charges	18,028	14,017	53,682	41,409
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(5,955)	(6,597)	(17,220)	(17,777)
Net income (loss)	(18,768)	(15,975)	(53,515)	(48,299)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			204	911
Equity investment in investees	0		0		0
Goodwill	0		0		0
Total segment assets	550,323		550,323		633,756
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	(1)	0
Other operations	(2,442)	0	(5,395)	0
Affiliate revenue	(28,617)	(22,988)	(78,802)	(56,358)
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(31,059)	(22,988)	(84,198)	(56,358)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	(1)	(1)
Interest income	(179)	(84)	(508)	(169)
Interest charges	(179)	(84)	(509)	(173)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	(1)	0
Net income (loss)	0	$ (1)	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			0	$ 0
Equity investment in investees	0		0		0
Goodwill	0		0		0
Total segment assets	$ (38,683)		$ (38,683)		$ (36,795)