Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees - Litigation (Details) $ in Thousands					1 Months Ended						24 Months Ended	30 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2020	May 21, 2020	Jan. 01, 2020	Apr. 13, 2016 claim	Mar. 31, 2018 plaintiff	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 complaint	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) generation_unit	Sep. 27, 2019 recommendation finding	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 04, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 generation_unit
Litigation [Line Items]
Accrual for various litigation matters													$ 5,400
Provision for rate refund											$ 38,903		9,444
Gulf Coast Spinning start up costs
Litigation [Line Items]
Startup costs								$ 6,500
Gulf Coast Spinning construction of cotton spinning facility
Litigation [Line Items]
Startup costs								$ 60,000
FERC
Litigation [Line Items]
Estimated refund interest amount													$ 1,900
CLECO POWER
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of generating units owned | generation_unit													10
Provision for rate refund											38,241		$ 8,630		$ 79,200
CLECO POWER | FERC
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of findings | finding														12
Number of recommendations | recommendation														59
Accrual for various litigation matters													$ 600
CLECO POWER | LPSC Jan 2016 To Dec 2017 EAC Audit
Litigation [Line Items]
Environmental expenses included in audit											26,200
CLECO POWER | MISO Transmission Rates
Litigation [Line Items]
Return on equity proposed/recommended	10.52%		10.38%			10.32%	9.70%
CLECO POWER | MISO Transmission Rates | FERC
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of actions filed | complaint												2
Return on equity established by FERC										12.38%
Return on equity proposed/recommended		10.02%					9.88%					6.68%
Requested rate increase									0.00%
CLECO POWER | LPSC 2016-2017 Fuel Audit
Litigation [Line Items]
Fuel expenses included in audit											$ 565,800
Actions filed in the 9th Judicial District Court | Alleged Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of actions filed | claim				4
Actions filed in the Civil District Court | Alleged Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of actions filed | claim				3
Pending Litigation | 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
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of generation units failed to repair | generation_unit																	1
Number of generating units owned | generation_unit																	2
Pending Litigation | Larry Addison, Et Al. V. Sabine River Authority Of Texas, Et Al
Litigation [Line Items]
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff					26
NRG South Central
Litigation [Line Items]
Indemnification assets																$ 10,000
Contingent liability																$ 10,000