Miscellaneous Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue, net	$ 409,575	$ 487,971	$ 397,873	$ 344,186	$ 296,767	$ 358,256	$ 299,261	$ 276,760	$ 1,639,605	$ 1,231,044	$ 1,175,646
Operating income	75,573	101,539	87,196	50,586	50,004	86,110	63,709	44,734	314,894	244,557	265,227
Net income	31,797	55,565	44,746	20,557	10,377	47,360	25,839	10,861	152,665	94,437	138,080
Distributions to member					10,850	20,600	20,400	19,500		71,350	84,065
CLECO POWER
Quarterly Information [Line Items]
Operating revenue, net	281,676	344,977	272,972	268,745	299,409	360,899	301,901	279,387	1,168,370	1,241,596	1,185,196
Operating income	49,985	78,132	75,446	44,905	59,786	96,063	72,602	50,521	248,468	278,972	285,245
Net income	20,667	51,527	49,356	26,712	29,897	63,336	43,020	26,004	148,262	162,257	150,738
Distributions to member	$ 20,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 50,400	$ 43,000	$ 28,000	$ 20,000	$ 121,400	$ 135,000