Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 194,966	$ 122,300	$ 152,665
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Postretirement benefits (loss) gain, net of tax expense (benefit)	2,167	(8,283)	(19,299)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,167	(8,283)	(19,299)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	197,133	114,017	133,366
Parent Company
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	194,966	122,300	152,665
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Postretirement benefits (loss) gain, net of tax expense (benefit)	2,167	(8,283)	(19,299)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,167	(8,283)	(19,299)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 197,133	$ 114,017	$ 133,366