Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees - Litigation (Details)		1 Months Ended							12 Months Ended	24 Months Ended
	Nov. 07, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 plaintiff	Jun. 30, 2016 petition	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 claim	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016 claim	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2019 finding recommendation	Jul. 10, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 04, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 generation_unit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund											$ 50,777,000				$ 35,842,000
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss											6,000,000
South Central Generating
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification asset														$ 10,000,000
Contingent liability														$ 10,000,000
FERC | MISO Transmission Rates
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Public utilities, requested rate increase (decrease), percentage (in hundredths)								0.50%
Gulf Coast Spinning start up costs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Allegations by plaintiff, failure to perform					$ 6,500,000
Gulf Coast Spinning construction of cotton spinning facility
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Allegations by plaintiff, failure to perform					$ 60,000,000
Actions filed in the 9th Judicial District Court | Alleged Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of actions filed | claim									4
Actions filed in the Civil District Court | Alleged Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of actions filed | claim						3			3
Perry Bonin, Ace Chandler, and Michael Manuel, et al v. Sabine River Authority of Texas and Sabine River Authority of Louisiana, No. B-160173-C | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of generation units failed to repair | generation_unit																	1
Number of generation units owned | generation_unit																	2
Larry Addison, Et Al. V. Sabine River Authority Of Texas, Et Al | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff			26
CLECO POWER
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund											49,403,000		$ 79,200,000		$ 35,842,000
CLECO POWER | LPSC 2016-2017 Fuel Audit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Fuel costs										$ 536,200,000
Cost disallowance in audit, excluding interest																$ 0
CLECO POWER | LPSC 2016-2017 EAC Audit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		$ 30,700,000
CLECO POWER | LPSC Nov 2010-Dec 2015 EAC Audit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of petitions filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals | petition				6
CLECO POWER | FERC
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of findings | finding												12
Number of recommendations | recommendation												59
Provision for rate refund											3,000,000
CLECO POWER | FERC | MISO Transmission Rates
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Public utilities, approved return on equity, percentage (In hundredths)							12.38%
Public utilities, proposed return on equity, percentage (in hundredths)				9.70%			6.68%
Provision for rate refund											$ 1,900,000
Subsequent Event | CLECO POWER | FERC
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated refund interest amount	$ 3,000,000