Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 205,819		$ 430,119		$ 317,761
Investing activities
Return on equity investment in investee	8,000		1,100		0
Other investing	1,081		1,313		1,392
Net cash used in investing activities	(377,907)		(1,115,423)		(288,160)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facilities	238,000		108,000		0
Payments on credit facilities	(163,000)		(108,000)		0
Payment of financing costs	(4,570)		(5,959)		(791)
Distributions to member	0		0		(71,350)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	119,758		687,813		(41,717)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	(52,330)		2,509		(12,116)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	142,595	[1]	140,086		152,202
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	90,265	[2]	142,595	[1]	140,086
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	130,544		130,988		124,154
Income taxes (refunded) paid, net	(2,777)		(19)		272
Cleco Holdings
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	73,452		189,644		97,614
Investing activities
Return on equity investment in investee	0		1,625		2,775
Contribution to subsidiary	0		(962,170)		(1,250)
Other investing	0		0		442
Net cash used in investing activities	0		(960,545)		1,967
Financing activities
Draws on credit facilities	88,000		75,000		0
Payments on credit facilities	(88,000)		(75,000)		0
Issuances of long-term debt	0		700,000		0
Repayments of long-term debt	(64,000)		(370,000)		0
Payment of financing costs	(2,838)		(5,929)		(25)
Contribution from member	0		384,900		0
Distributions to member	0		0		(71,350)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(66,838)		708,971		(71,375)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	6,614		(61,930)		28,206
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,008		76,938		48,732
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	21,622		15,008		76,938
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	62,745		56,768		53,798
Income taxes (refunded) paid, net	(2,942)		(19)		2
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Non-cash contribution to subsidiary, net of tax	$ 0		$ 0		$ 3,865

[1] Includes cash and cash equivalents of $116,292, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $11,100, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $15,203.

[2] Includes cash and cash equivalents of $84,976, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $4,545, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $744.