Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ 521,187	$ 359,657	$ 951,126	$ 729,774
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	24,231	19,092	43,472	43,969
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	24,231	19,092	43,472	43,969
Operating revenue, net	545,418	378,749	994,598	773,743
Electric customer credits	129	18,517	265	39,494
Deferred lease amortization			4,603	4,603
Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	270,505	195,914	509,729	373,281
Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	131,813	105,315	244,236	200,396
Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	84,336	68,392	160,870	131,418
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	50,188	37,385	96,462	74,051
Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,297	3,876	8,426	7,446
Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(129)	(19,054)	(265)	(40,030)
Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	215,603	135,203	372,180	296,012
Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	30,081	25,291	59,025	52,590
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,998	3,249	10,192	7,891
Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Operating revenue, net	551,600	383,985	1,007,350	784,995
Electric customer credits	129	18,518	265	39,494
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	382,753	259,916	697,885	519,284
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	6,046	1,763	7,419	8,859
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	6,046	1,763	7,419	8,859
Operating revenue, net	388,799	261,679	705,304	528,143
Electric customer credits	129	18,762	265	39,738
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	270,505	195,914	509,729	373,281
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	131,813	105,315	244,236	200,396
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	84,336	68,392	160,870	131,418
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	50,188	37,385	96,462	74,051
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,297	3,876	8,426	7,446
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(129)	(19,054)	(265)	(40,030)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	91,934	46,216	147,298	107,938
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	13,688	13,313	27,580	27,295
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Electric customer credits		300		300
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,998	3,249	10,191	7,891
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	1,628	1,224	3,087	2,879
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	144,618	104,980	265,994	221,744
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	18,183	17,326	36,052	35,108
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	18,183	17,326	36,052	35,108
Operating revenue, net	162,801	122,306	302,046	256,852
Electric customer credits	0	(244)	0	(244)
Lease revenue	15,900	15,000	31,400	30,500
Deferred lease amortization	2,300	2,300	4,600	4,600
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	126,089	91,407	229,722	192,914
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Contract with customer, amortization	(3,600)	(3,300)	(7,200)	(6,400)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	18,529	13,573	36,272	28,830
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Electric customer credits		200		200
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	23,332	23,700	48,306	48,436
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	2	1	2	2
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	2	1	2	2
Operating revenue, net	23,334	23,701	48,308	48,438
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(2,420)	(2,420)	(4,840)	(4,840)
OTHER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
OTHER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	1	0
OTHER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	25,752	26,120	53,145	53,276
ELIMINATIONS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(29,516)	(28,939)	(61,059)	(59,690)
Revenue unrelated to contracts with customers
Other	0	2	(1)	0
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	0	2	(1)	0
Operating revenue, net	(29,516)	(28,937)	(61,060)	(59,690)
Electric customer credits	0	(1)	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(2,136)	(1,595)	(4,827)	(3,535)
ELIMINATIONS | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ (27,380)	$ (27,344)	$ (56,232)	$ (56,155)