Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax benefit	$ 43,165	$ 29,382	$ 7,079
Cleco Holdings
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax benefit	(20,358)	(22,317)	(23,094)
Equity income from subsidiaries - federal and state income tax expense	$ 63,523	$ 51,699	$ 30,173