Pension Plan and Employee Benefits - Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) bonus	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percent of employees' gross pay, one time benefit (up to)	30.00%
401(k) Plan expense, additional cost	$ 200,000
PENSION BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Consecutive calendar years					5 years
Most recent period of employment					10 years
Employer contributions		$ 15,800,000	$ 12,300,000		$ 0	$ 15,750,000
Estimated pension contributions required through 2026					$ 5,400,000
Defined benefit plan, interest crediting rate		3.15%			3.06%	3.15%
Net actuarial gain (loss) occurring during the period (less than in 2021 for Other Benefits)					$ 26,925,000	$ (30,126,000)
Special/contractual termination benefits, percent increase in benefits	10.00%
Special/contractual termination benefits					3,270,000	0	$ 0
Net periodic benefit cost					$ 30,391,000	$ 21,894,000	$ 12,175,000
Expected return on plan assets					5.00%	5.91%	6.55%
Actual return on plan assets					7.14%	15.89%
OTHER BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Employer contributions					$ 0	$ 0
Net actuarial gain (loss) occurring during the period (less than in 2021 for Other Benefits)					81,000	(4,221,000)
Special/contractual termination benefits					0	0	$ 0
Net periodic benefit cost					5,231,000	5,193,000	2,858,000
Assets set aside in a trust					$ 0
Assumed health care cost trend rates for next fiscal year					5.00%
Ultimate health care trend rate					5.00%
SERP BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Consecutive calendar years					5 years
Most recent period of employment					60 months
Net actuarial gain (loss) occurring during the period (less than in 2021 for Other Benefits)					$ 1,932,000	(9,621,000)
Net periodic benefit cost					$ 3,783,000	6,302,000	5,040,000
Number of highest cash bonuses | bonus					5
CLECO POWER | PENSION BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Special/contractual termination benefits	$ 2,400,000
CLECO POWER | OTHER BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost					$ 4,700,000	4,800,000	3,100,000
CLECO POWER | SERP BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost					600,000	1,000,000	800,000
Support Group | PENSION BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Special/contractual termination benefits	$ 900,000
Net periodic benefit cost					$ 4,500,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 2,200,000
Forecast | PENSION BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected return on plan assets				5.25%
Increase in expected pension costs				$ 14,300,000