Variable Interest Entities - Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 767,960	$ 664,892
Total assets	8,125,018	7,725,569	$ 7,476,298
Current liabilities	513,162	524,612
Total liabilities and member’s equity	8,125,018	7,725,569
Operating revenue	1,745,929	1,498,146	1,639,605
Cleco Power
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	465,414	394,097
Total assets	5,129,501	4,766,147
Current liabilities	355,221	380,706
Partners’ capital	4,145	18,145
Total liabilities and member’s equity	5,129,501	4,766,147
Operating revenue	1,241,637	1,032,292	1,168,370
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees | Cleco Power
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	6,979	16,805
Total assets	10,777	25,075
Current liabilities	393	369
Other liabilities	6,239	6,561
Partners’ capital	4,145	18,145
Total liabilities and member’s equity	10,777	25,075
Operating revenue	5,155	34,827	8,886
Operating expenses	5,155	34,827	8,886
Income before taxes	0	0	$ 0
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees | Cleco Power | Property, plant, and equipment, net
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Noncurrent assets	3,798	4,910
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees | Cleco Power | Other assets
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Noncurrent assets	$ 0	$ 3,360