Disclosures about Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,590,796	$ 1,370,893	$ 1,496,736
Other operations	195,767	180,524	182,832
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(40,634)	(53,271)	(39,963)
Operating revenue, net	1,745,929	1,498,146	1,639,605
Net income	194,966	122,300	152,665
Add: Depreciation and amortization	251,431	232,229	228,921
Less: Interest income	3,312	3,948	6,090
Add: Interest charges	134,336	137,864	141,309
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	13,111	35,718	43,165
Add: Other corporate costs and noncash items	(7,362)	1,633	2,153
EBITDA	583,170	525,796	562,123
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	311,141	389,015	308,394
Equity investment in investee	2,072	9,072	17,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797	$ 1,490,000
Total segment assets	8,125,018	7,725,569	7,476,298
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	$ (25,600)	(25,600)	(24,273)
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit	1
TOTAL SEGMENTS
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,600,475	1,380,573	1,506,417
Other operations	203,374	186,984	190,301
Affiliate revenue	5,641	5,360	3,233
Electric customer credits	(40,634)	(53,272)	(39,963)
Operating revenue, net	1,768,856	1,519,645	1,659,988
Net income	249,720	186,147	217,673
Add: Depreciation and amortization	229,936	214,170	210,936
Less: Interest income	3,309	3,635	5,731
Add: Interest charges	73,893	73,235	71,314
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	32,930	55,879	67,931
EBITDA	583,170	525,796	562,123
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	310,038	385,964	307,739
Equity investment in investee	2,072	9,072	17,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	7,724,388	7,286,756	6,978,918
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	1,202,249	1,015,018	1,130,928
Other operations	74,625	65,237	72,833
Affiliate revenue	5,641	5,156	3,125
Electric customer credits	(40,878)	(53,119)	(38,516)
Operating revenue, net	1,241,637	1,032,292	1,168,370
Net income	134,088	96,655	148,262
Add: Depreciation and amortization	173,498	166,987	172,471
Less: Interest income	3,294	3,362	4,744
Add: Interest charges	73,090	73,985	71,279
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	(9,353)	26,799	45,452
EBITDA	368,029	361,064	432,720
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	300,957	377,044	298,565
Equity investment in investee	2,072	9,072	17,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,620,298	6,256,944	5,967,327
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	398,226	365,555	375,489
Other operations	128,749	121,747	117,468
Affiliate revenue	0	204	108
Electric customer credits	244	(153)	(1,447)
Operating revenue, net	527,219	487,353	491,618
Net income	115,632	89,492	69,411
Add: Depreciation and amortization	56,438	47,183	38,465
Less: Interest income	15	273	987
Add: Interest charges	803	(750)	35
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	42,283	29,080	22,479
EBITDA	215,141	164,732	129,403
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	9,081	8,920	9,174
Equity investment in investee	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	1,104,090	1,029,812	1,011,591
Amortization of deferred lease income	(9,200)	(9,200)	(8,400)
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities	13,500	12,400	11,400
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(9,680)	(9,680)	(9,680)
Other operations	8	3	2
Affiliate revenue	113,623	129,126	109,067
Electric customer credits	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	103,951	119,449	99,389
Net income	(54,754)	(63,848)	(65,009)
Add: Depreciation and amortization	21,495	18,059	17,985
Less: Interest income	125	412	974
Add: Interest charges	60,564	64,728	70,611
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	(19,819)	(20,160)	(24,766)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	1,103	3,051	655
Equity investment in investee	(46,901)	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	619,101	595,217	546,096
OTHER | CLECO POWER | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	9,700	(9,700)	(9,700)
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	1	0	(1)
Other operations	(7,615)	(6,463)	(7,471)
Affiliate revenue	(119,264)	(134,486)	(112,300)
Electric customer credits	0	1	0
Operating revenue, net	(126,878)	(140,948)	(119,772)
Net income	0	1	1
Add: Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Less: Interest income	(122)	(99)	(615)
Add: Interest charges	(121)	(99)	(616)
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	0	(1)	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0	0
Equity investment in investee	46,901	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	$ (218,471)	$ (156,404)	$ (48,716)