Leases - Operating Lease (Details)	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019 municipality	Dec. 31, 2019 towboat	Dec. 31, 2019 non_municipal_public_body	Dec. 31, 2019 railcar	Jul. 09, 2019
CLECO POWER
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Operating lease, number of lessors		2		1
CLECO POWER | Railroad Transportation Equipment
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, number of leased assets					200
CLECO POWER | Maritime Equipment
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
Lessee, operating lease, renewal term	5 years
Lessee, operating lease, number of leased assets | towboat			3
Cleco Cajun | Railroad Transportation Equipment
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	12 months
Lessee, operating lease, renewal term	1 month
Lessee, operating lease, number of leased assets					135
Municipality One | CLECO POWER | Utility System
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
Lessee, operating lease, renewal term						10 years
Municipality Two | CLECO POWER | Utility System
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
Non-Municipal Public Body | CLECO POWER | Utility System
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	27 years
Operating Lease, Expiring March 31, 2021 | CLECO POWER | Railroad Transportation Equipment
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, number of leased assets					115
Operating Lease, Expiring March 31, 2020 | CLECO POWER | Railroad Transportation Equipment
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee, operating lease, number of leased assets					85