Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating expenses
Merger transaction costs	$ 436	$ 3,606	$ 7,668
Total operating expenses	1,401,052	1,193,054	1,324,711
Operating income	344,877	305,092	314,894
Other (expense) income, net	(15,681)	(14,156)	758
Income before income taxes	208,077	158,018	195,830
Federal and state income tax expense	13,111	35,718	43,165
Net income	194,966	122,300	152,665
Parent Company
Operating expenses
Administrative and general	1,644	1,497	3,263
Merger transaction costs	436	3,606	7,803
Other operating expense	247	239	130
Total operating expenses	2,327	5,342	11,196
Operating income	(2,327)	(5,342)	(11,196)
Equity income from subsidiaries, net of tax	234,512	173,337	205,187
Interest, net	(60,461)	(64,362)	(70,252)
Other (expense) income, net	8,788	3,021	8,568
Income before income taxes	180,512	106,654	132,307
Federal and state income tax expense	(14,454)	(15,646)	(20,358)
Net income	$ 194,966	$ 122,300	$ 152,665