Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax benefit	$ 13,111	$ 35,718	$ 43,165
Parent Company
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax benefit	(14,454)	(15,646)	(20,358)
Equity income from subsidiaries - federal and state income tax expense	$ 27,565	$ 51,364	$ 63,523