Regulation and Rates - Provision for Rate Refund (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	$ 5,682	$ 9,444
Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	5,682	8,630	$ 79,200
Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery charges | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	1,611	1,617
FERC audit | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	0	1,912
FRP | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	1,229	1,786
Site-specific industrial customer | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	833	710
TCJA | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	2,057	2,057
Transmission ROE | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund	$ 0	$ 595