Fair Value Accounting and Financial Instruments - Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Details) - Derivatives not designated as hedging instrument - Price risk derivatives - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	$ 140,704	$ (6,413)	$ (7,814)
Electric operations | Financial Transmission Right
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Amount of gain recognized in income on derivatives	12,797	9,213	13,043
Purchased power | Financial Transmission Right
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives	(6,237)	(3,467)	(15,685)
Fuel Used For Electric Generation | Natural gas derivatives
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Amount of gain recognized in income on derivatives	134,144
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives		(12,159)	(5,172)
Accumulated Deferred Fuel
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	2,800	500	(1,700)
CLECO POWER
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	2,437	2,410	6,981
CLECO POWER | Electric operations | Financial Transmission Right
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Amount of gain recognized in income on derivatives	12,797	9,213	13,047
CLECO POWER | Purchased power | Financial Transmission Right
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives	(10,360)	(6,803)	(6,066)
CLECO POWER | Accumulated Deferred Fuel
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	$ 2,800	$ 500	$ (900)