Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities
Net income	$ 122,300		$ 152,665		$ 94,437
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	249,494		245,682		187,426
Provision for credit losses	5,488		2,348		797
Unearned compensation expense	5,715		5,409		5,837
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(998)		(15,397)		(14,159)
(Gain) loss on risk management assets and liabilities, net	(13,261)		10,180		0
Deferred lease revenue	(9,205)		(8,439)		0
Deferred income taxes	35,876		40,081		6,543
Deferred fuel costs	(4,142)		11,132		(18,549)
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(3,042)		(5,705)		2,726
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(8,772)		(9,532)		3,123
Accounts receivable - affiliate	(621)		(1,041)		635
Unbilled revenue	(6,920)		2,107		1,084
Fuel inventory and materials and supplies	(39,602)		18,463		(2,981)
Prepayments	(20,117)		(14,479)		153
Accounts payable	(19,612)		13,507		18,898
Accounts payable - affiliate	1,470		3,175		0
Customer deposits	6,663		5,888		13,757
Provision for merger commitments	560		(1,848)		(3,273)
Postretirement benefit obligations	(9,588)		(10,981)		4,646
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(76,428)		90		3,032
Other deferred accounts	16,931		7,147		9,748
Taxes accrued	4,633		(3,619)		20,976
Interest accrued	(3,417)		3,173		1,124
Deferred compensation	1,125		1,316		(1,521)
Other operating	5,151		(6,909)		2,798
Net cash provided by operating activities	205,819		430,119		317,761
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(390,013)		(323,791)		(291,061)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	998		15,397		14,159
Reimbursement for property loss	115		141		1,375
Return of equity investment in investee	8,000		1,100		0
Return of investment in company-owned life insurance	1,912		3,761		0
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	0		1,625		2,775
Issuance of note receivable	0		0		(16,800)
Payment to acquire business, net of cash received	0		(814,969)		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
Issuances of long-term debt	125,000		700,000		50,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(75,055)		(390,571)		(19,193)
Payment of financing costs	(4,570)		(5,959)		(791)
Contribution from member	0		384,900		0
Distributions to member	0		0		(71,350)
Other financing	(617)		(557)		(383)
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
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	7,943		16,124		56,450
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	0		52		1,224
Incurrence of finance lease obligation - barges	0		0		16,800
CLECO POWER
Operating activities
Net income	96,655		148,262		162,257
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	172,452		178,245		168,248
Provision for credit losses	5,100		2,348		797
Unearned compensation expense	1,150		974		1,873
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(998)		(15,397)		(14,159)
Deferred income taxes	6,165		21,799		(11,545)
Deferred fuel costs	(4,142)		11,132		(18,549)
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	1,390		2,923		(219)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(21,289)		(4,740)		3,967
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,403		728		426
Unbilled revenue	(6,920)		2,107		1,084
Fuel inventory and materials and supplies	(16,609)		21,121		(2,981)
Prepayments	(1,414)		386		107
Accounts payable	(27,401)		14,659		22,419
Accounts payable - affiliate	(276)		5,912		(4,700)
Customer deposits	6,663		5,888		13,757
Provision for merger commitments	(1,752)		(1,848)		(3,273)
Postretirement benefit obligations	(12,321)		(10,078)		4,252
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(78,416)		(1,897)		1,044
Other deferred accounts	17,262		6,338		5,421
Taxes accrued	23,442		(20,881)		16,566
Interest accrued	(2,614)		(280)		1,169
Other operating	2,773		(2,541)		2,569
Net cash provided by operating activities	127,779		352,484		339,688
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(378,042)		(313,962)		(289,153)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	998		15,397		14,159
Reimbursement for property loss	115		141		1,375
Return of equity investment in investee	8,000		1,100		0
Return of investment in company-owned life insurance	1,912		3,761		0
Issuance of note receivable	0		0		(16,800)
Other investing	1,081		1,313		1,392
Net cash used in investing activities	(365,936)		(292,250)		(289,027)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facilities	150,000		33,000		0
Payments on credit facilities	(75,000)		(33,000)		0
Issuances of long-term debt	125,000		0		50,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(11,055)		(20,571)		(19,193)
Payment of financing costs	(1,732)		(31)		(766)
Distributions to member	0		(20,000)		(121,400)
Other financing	(617)		(557)		(382)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	186,596		(41,159)		(91,741)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	(51,561)		19,075		(41,080)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	80,952	[3]	61,877		102,957
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	29,391	[4]	80,952	[3]	61,877
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	67,799		67,391		70,357
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	6,824		14,894		55,718
Incurrence of finance lease obligation - barges	$ 0		$ 0		$ 16,800

[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.

[3] (1) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $55,489, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $11,100, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $14,363.

[4] (2) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $24,846, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $4,545, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $0.