Disclosures about Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 366,245	$ 311,157
Other operations	49,726	44,908
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Electric customer credits	(20,976)	(8,493)
Operating revenue, net	394,995	347,572
Net income	20,327	6,328
Depreciation and amortization	58,164	59,090
Interest income	647	1,157
Interest charges	33,891	35,149
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	(9,420)	1,562
Other corporate costs and noncash items	(2,944)	12,212
EBITDA	99,371	113,184
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	38,658	65,624
Equity investment in investees	7,322		$ 9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	7,791,276		7,725,569
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	267,158	224,430
Other operations	18,626	15,764
Affiliate revenue	1,655	1,106
Electric customer credits	(20,976)	(8,340)
Operating revenue, net	266,463	232,960
Net income	18,425	11,831
Interest income	642	954
Interest charges	18,646	18,581
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	(9,723)	3,338
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	37,150	61,477
Equity investment in investees	7,322		9,072
Total assets	4,850,264		4,766,147
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	6,400	6,400
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Revenue
Electric operations	368,665	313,577
Other operations	51,665	46,725
Affiliate revenue	1,655	1,267
Electric customer credits	(20,976)	(8,493)
Operating revenue, net	401,009	353,076
Net income	32,906	31,366
Depreciation and amortization	53,729	54,577
Interest income	645	1,109
Interest charges	18,494	18,591
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	(5,113)	9,759
EBITDA	99,371	113,184
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	39,463	64,818
Equity investment in investees	7,322		9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	7,372,602		7,286,756
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	267,158	224,430
Other operations	18,626	15,764
Affiliate revenue	1,655	1,106
Electric customer credits	(20,976)	(8,340)
Operating revenue, net	266,463	232,960
Net income	18,425	11,831
Depreciation and amortization	42,076	43,677
Interest income	642	954
Interest charges	18,646	18,581
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	(9,723)	3,338
EBITDA	68,782	76,473
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	37,150	61,477
Equity investment in investees	7,322		9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	6,341,061		6,256,944
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	101,507	89,147
Other operations	33,039	30,961
Affiliate revenue	0	161
Electric customer credits	0	(153)
Operating revenue, net	134,546	120,116
Net income	14,481	19,535
Depreciation and amortization	11,653	10,900
Interest income	3	155
Interest charges	(152)	10
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	4,610	6,421
EBITDA	30,589	36,711
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	2,313	3,341
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total assets	1,031,541		1,029,812
Amortization of deferred lease income	(2,300)	(2,300)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities	3,100	3,100
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(2,420)	(2,420)
Other operations	1	1
Affiliate revenue	27,156	29,278
Electric customer credits	0	0
Operating revenue, net	24,737	26,859
Net income	(12,579)	(25,039)
Depreciation and amortization	4,435	4,514
Interest income	43	100
Interest charges	15,440	16,610
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	(4,307)	(8,197)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(805)	806
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total assets	586,718		595,217
OTHER | Power supply agreements | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	2,400	2,400
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Other operations	(1,940)	(1,818)
Affiliate revenue	(28,811)	(30,545)
Electric customer credits	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(30,751)	(32,363)
Net income	0	1
Depreciation and amortization	0	(1)
Interest income	(41)	(52)
Interest charges	(43)	(52)
Federal and state income tax (benefit)	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	$ 0
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total assets	$ (168,044)		$ (156,404)