Disclosures about Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 492,283	$ 351,936	$ 889,592	$ 718,181
Other operations	53,264	45,330	105,271	95,056
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(129)	(18,517)	(265)	(39,494)
Operating revenue, net	545,418	378,749	994,598	773,743
Net income (loss)	1,363	78,822	157,107	99,149
Depreciation and amortization	71,892	57,699	144,689	115,862
Interest income	1,241	829	1,997	1,475
Interest charges	36,407	33,291	69,927	67,183
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	29,527	9,837	23,940	416
Other corporate costs and noncash items	5,728	(1,385)	3,240	(4,331)
EBITDA	143,676	177,435	396,906	276,804
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			101,673	138,516
Equity investment in investees	2,072		2,072		$ 2,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	8,462,321		8,462,321		8,125,018
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	368,614	262,948	664,711	530,107
Other operations	18,686	16,269	37,771	34,895
Affiliate revenue	1,628	1,224	3,087	2,879
Electric customer credits	(129)	(18,762)	(265)	(39,738)
Operating revenue, net	388,799	261,679	705,304	528,143
Net income (loss)	54,705	27,421	93,729	45,846
Interest income	1,035	825	1,775	1,468
Interest charges	21,305	18,237	40,108	36,883
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	3,214	8,956	3,938	(767)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			98,162	132,194
Equity investment in investees	2,072		2,072		2,072
Total assets	5,444,112		5,444,112		5,129,501
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	6,400	6,400	12,800	12,800
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Revenue
Electric operations	494,703	354,355	894,433	723,021
Other operations	55,398	46,924	110,095	98,589
Affiliate revenue	1,628	1,224	3,087	2,879
Electric customer credits	(129)	(18,518)	(265)	(39,494)
Operating revenue, net	551,600	383,985	1,007,350	784,995
Net income (loss)	53,773	79,915	186,178	112,821
Depreciation and amortization	67,518	53,272	135,936	107,000
Interest income	1,211	828	1,963	1,474
Interest charges	21,348	18,057	40,143	36,551
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	2,248	27,019	36,612	21,906
EBITDA	143,676	177,435	396,906	276,804
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			101,001	137,076
Equity investment in investees	2,072		2,072		2,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	8,077,999		8,077,999		7,724,388
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	368,614	262,948	664,711	530,107
Other operations	18,686	16,269	37,771	34,895
Affiliate revenue	1,628	1,224	3,087	2,879
Electric customer credits	(129)	(18,762)	(265)	(39,738)
Operating revenue, net	388,799	261,679	705,304	528,143
Net income (loss)	54,705	27,421	93,729	45,846
Depreciation and amortization	44,299	40,933	89,538	83,009
Interest income	1,035	825	1,775	1,468
Interest charges	21,305	18,237	40,108	36,883
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	3,214	8,956	3,938	(767)
EBITDA	122,488	94,722	225,538	163,503
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			98,162	132,194
Equity investment in investees	2,072		2,072		2,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797		1,490,797
Total assets	6,934,909		6,934,909		6,620,298
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	126,089	91,407	229,722	192,914
Other operations	36,712	30,655	72,324	63,694
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	0	244	0	244
Operating revenue, net	162,801	122,306	302,046	256,852
Net income (loss)	(932)	52,494	92,449	66,975
Depreciation and amortization	23,219	12,339	46,398	23,991
Interest income	176	3	188	6
Interest charges	43	(180)	35	(332)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(966)	18,063	32,674	22,673
EBITDA	21,188	82,713	171,368	113,301
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			2,839	4,882
Equity investment in investees	0		0		0
Goodwill	0		0		0
Total assets	1,143,090		1,143,090		1,104,090
Amortization of deferred lease income	(2,300)	(2,300)	(4,600)	(4,600)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities	3,600	3,300	7,200	6,400
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(2,420)	(2,420)	(4,840)	(4,840)
Other operations	2	1	3	2
Affiliate revenue	25,752	26,120	53,145	53,276
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	23,334	23,701	48,308	48,438
Net income (loss)	(52,409)	(1,093)	(29,070)	(13,672)
Depreciation and amortization	4,373	4,427	8,752	8,862
Interest income	53	14	83	57
Interest charges	15,081	15,248	29,834	30,687
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	27,280	(17,182)	(12,672)	(21,490)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			672	1,440
Equity investment in investees	(185,901)		(185,901)		(46,901)
Goodwill	0		0		0
Total assets	373,804		373,804		619,101
OTHER | Power supply agreements | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	2,400	2,400	4,800	4,800
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	1	(1)	0
Other operations	(2,136)	(1,595)	(4,827)	(3,535)
Affiliate revenue	(27,380)	(27,344)	(56,232)	(56,155)
Electric customer credits	0	1	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(29,516)	(28,937)	(61,060)	(59,690)
Net income (loss)	(1)	0	(1)	0
Depreciation and amortization	1	0	1	0
Interest income	(23)	(13)	(49)	(56)
Interest charges	(22)	(14)	(50)	(55)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	$ 0	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment			0	$ 0
Equity investment in investees	185,901		185,901		46,901
Goodwill	0		0		0
Total assets	$ 10,518		$ 10,518		$ (218,471)