Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ 429,939	$ 370,117
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	19,241	24,878
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	19,241	24,878
Operating revenue, net	449,180	394,995
Deferred lease amortization	2,301	2,301
Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	239,224	177,367
Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	112,423	95,081
Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	76,534	63,026
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	46,274	36,666
Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,129	3,570
Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(136)	(20,976)
Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	156,577	160,809
Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	28,945	27,299
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	5,193	4,642
Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Operating revenue, net	455,749	401,009
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	315,132	259,368
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	1,372	7,095
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	1,372	7,095
Operating revenue, net	316,504	266,463
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	239,224	177,367
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	112,423	95,081
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	76,534	63,026
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	46,274	36,666
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,129	3,570
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(136)	(20,976)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	55,364	61,722
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	13,892	13,982
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	5,193	4,642
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	1,459	1,655
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	121,376	116,764
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	17,869	17,782
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	17,869	17,782
Operating revenue, net	139,245	134,546
Lease revenue	15,500	15,500
Deferred lease amortization	2,300	2,300
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	103,633	101,507
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Contract with customer, amortization	(3,600)	(3,100)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	17,743	15,257
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	24,973	24,736
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	1	1
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	1	1
Operating revenue, net	24,974	24,737
OTHER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(2,420)	(2,420)
OTHER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	27,393	27,156
ELIMINATIONS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(31,542)	(30,751)
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	(1)	0
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	(1)	0
Operating revenue, net	(31,543)	(30,751)
ELIMINATIONS | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(2,690)	(1,940)
ELIMINATIONS | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ (28,852)	$ (28,811)