Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Covid-19 Impacts	In March 2020, WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and the U.S. declared a national emergency. In response to these declarations and the rapid spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments imposed varying degrees of restrictions on business and social activities to contain COVID-19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the LPSC issued an executive order prohibiting the disconnection of utilities for nonpayment. On December 4, 2020, Cleco Power made a filing with the LPSC requesting the recovery of expenses incurred as a result of this executive order, as well as the lost revenue associated with the disconnection fees and incremental costs. Cleco Power anticipates approval of the recovery of these expenses in the first quarter of 2023. At September 30, 2022, Cleco Power had a regulatory asset of $3.0 million recorded for expenses incurred related to the executive order, as allowed by the LPSC. Cleco continues to assess the COVID-19 situation and cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19, or any significant related disruptions, will have on its business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Principles of Consolidation	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco include the accounts of Cleco and its majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.Following the formation of Cleco Securitization I and the closing of the storm securitization financing on June 22, 2022, Cleco Power became the primary beneficiary of Cleco Securitization I, and as a result, the financial statements of Cleco Securitization I are consolidated with the financial statements of Cleco Power
Basis of Presentation	The condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco and Cleco Power have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. Because the interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements, the condensed consolidated financial statements and other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Registrants’ Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. These condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations of Cleco and Cleco Power. Amounts reported in Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s interim financial statements are not necessarily indicative of amounts expected for the annual periods due to the effects of seasonal temperature variations on energy consumption, regulatory rulings, the timing of maintenance on electric generating units, changes in mark-to-market valuations, changing commodity prices, discrete income tax items, and other factors. In preparing financial statements that conform to GAAP, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	Various agreements to which Cleco is subject contain covenants that restrict its use of cash. As certain provisions under these agreements are met, cash is transferred out of related escrow accounts and becomes available for its intended purposes and/or general corporate purposes.
Reserves for Credit Losses	Customer accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Customer accounts receivable are generally considered to become past due 20 days after the billing date. Cleco recognizes write-offs within the allowance for credit losses once all recovery methods have been exhausted. It is the policy of management to review accounts receivable and unbilled revenue monthly using a reserve matrix based on historical bad debt write-offs, as well as current and forecasted economic conditions, to establish a credit loss estimate. Management’s historical credit loss analysis included periods of economic recessions, natural disasters, and temporary changes to collection policies. Due to the critical necessity of electricity, none of these past events have significantly impacted Cleco’s credit loss rates. As a result of the market price volatility of natural gas experienced throughout 2022, Cleco has experienced significant increases to the pass-through fuel component of retail customer energy bills. Due to these increased customer fuel costs, along with the impacts of a 40-year high inflation rate, Cleco has experienced increases in credit loss reserves. These factors have not been and are not expected to be material to Cleco’s results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
Recent Authoritative Guidance	In March 2020, FASB issued optional guidance, for a limited period of time, that applies to entities meeting certain criteria for the contract modifications or hedging relationships that are referencing LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The guidance includes a general principal that permits an entity to consider contract modifications due to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date or reassessment of a previous accounting determination. The optional guidance may be applied from March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. Management has identified contracts with reference rates that will be discontinued, primarily related to long-term debt obligations. Certain debt contracts have been amended to include fallback provisions that provide substitute reference rates in the event LIBOR is discontinued or deemed to no longer be representative, or prior to such events, at the option of Cleco and the administrative agent. Management will continue to modify contracts to include similar fallback language and expects to apply this guidance on an ongoing basis. Management does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on the Registrants’ results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.In November 2021, FASB issued guidance requiring annual disclosures about government assistance with the objective of increasing transparency and reducing existing diversity in practice. This guidance requires disclosure of the types of assistance, an entity’s accounting for the assistance, and the effect of the assistance on the entity’s financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. Funding is being sought for relief of incurred storm costs. In addition, a congressional appropriation has been secured, subject to the U.S. Department of Energy’s grant process, to help offset future costs associated with Cleco Power’s Project Diamond Vault. Management will continue to monitor this activity to determine what, if any, disclosures are required. Management does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on the results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows of the Registrants.
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities	Cleco Power recognizes an asset for certain costs capitalized or deferred for recovery from customers and recognizes a liability for amounts expected to be returned to customers or collected for future expected costs. Cleco Power records these assets and liabilities based on regulatory approval and management’s ongoing assessment that it is probable these items will be recovered or refunded through the ratemaking process. Under the current regulatory environment, Cleco Power believes these regulatory assets will be fully recoverable; however, if in the future, as a result of regulatory changes or competition, Cleco Power’s ability to recover these regulatory assets would no longer be probable, then to the extent that such regulatory assets were determined not to be recoverable, Cleco Power would be required to write-down such assets. In addition, potential deregulation of the industry, or possible future changes in the method of rate regulation of Cleco Power, could require discontinuance of the application of the authoritative guidance on regulated operations.
Pension Plan and Employee Benefits	Employees hired before August 1, 2007, are covered by a non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan. Based on the funding assumptions at December 31, 2021, management estimates that no contributions will be required until 2026, at which time $5.4 million of required pension contributions are expected. Cleco has not made, and does not expect to make, any contributions to the pension plan in 2022. Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator. Benefits under the plan reflect an employee’s years of service, age at retirement, and accrued benefit at retirement. Cleco’s retirees may be eligible to receive Other Benefits. Dependents of Cleco’s retirees may also be eligible to receive Other Benefits with the exception of life insurance benefits. The non-service components of net periodic pension and Other Benefits cost are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Certain Cleco officers are covered by SERP. Cleco does not fund the SERP liability, but instead pays for current benefits out of cash available of the respective company of the employed officer. Because the SERP is a non-qualified plan, Cleco has purchased life insurance policies on certain SERP participants as a mechanism to provide a source of funding. These policies are held in a rabbi trust formed by Cleco Power. The rabbi trust is the named beneficiary of the life insurance policies and, therefore, receives the proceeds upon the death of the insured participants. The life insurance policies may be used to reimburse Cleco for benefits paid from general funds, pay the SERP participants’ death benefits, or pay future SERP payments. Market conditions could have a significant impact on the cash surrender value of these life insurance policies. Because SERP is a non-qualified plan, the assets of the trust could be used to satisfy general creditors of Cleco Power in the event of insolvency. Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator.The non-service components of net periodic benefit cost related to SERP are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.Cleco’s 401(k) Plan is intended to provide active, eligible employees with voluntary, long-term savings and investment opportunities. The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan and is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In accordance with the 401(k) Plan, employer contributions are made in the form of cash. Cash contributions are invested in proportion to the participant’s voluntary contribution investment choices. Participation in the Plan is voluntary, and active Cleco employees are eligible to participate.
Income Taxes	Cleco classifies all interest related to uncertain tax positions as a component of interest payable and interest expense.Cleco classifies income tax penalties as a component of other expense.
Variable Interest Entities	Cleco and Cleco Power apply the equity method of accounting to report the investment in Oxbow in the consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the assets and liabilities of this entity are reported as Equity investment in investee on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The revenue and expenses (excluding income taxes) of this entity are netted and reported as equity income or loss from investees on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Equity Method Investments	Cleco and Cleco Power apply the equity method of accounting to report the investment in Oxbow in the consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the assets and liabilities of this entity are reported as Equity investment in investee on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The revenue and expenses (excluding income taxes) of this entity are netted and reported as equity income or loss from investees on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

In March 2020, WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global pandemic, and the U.S. declared a national emergency. In response to these declarations and the rapid spread of COVID-19, federal, state and local governments imposed varying degrees of restrictions on business and social activities to contain COVID-19.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the LPSC issued an executive order prohibiting the disconnection of utilities for nonpayment. On December 4, 2020, Cleco Power made a filing with the LPSC requesting the recovery of expenses incurred as a result of this executive order, as well as the lost revenue associated with the disconnection fees and incremental costs. Cleco Power anticipates approval of the recovery of these expenses in the first quarter of 2023. At September 30, 2022, Cleco Power had a regulatory asset of $3.0 million recorded for expenses incurred related to the executive order, as allowed by the LPSC.

Cleco continues to assess the COVID-19 situation and cannot predict the full impact that COVID-19, or any significant related disruptions, will have on its business, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco include the accounts of Cleco and its majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions.Following the formation of Cleco Securitization I and the closing of the storm securitization financing on June 22, 2022, Cleco Power became the primary beneficiary of Cleco Securitization I, and as a result, the financial statements of Cleco Securitization I are consolidated with the financial statements of Cleco Power

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Cleco and Cleco Power have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. Because the interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements, the condensed consolidated financial statements and other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Registrants’ Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

These condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations of Cleco and Cleco Power. Amounts reported in Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s interim financial statements are not necessarily indicative of amounts expected for the annual periods due to the effects of seasonal temperature variations on energy consumption, regulatory rulings, the timing of maintenance on electric generating units, changes in mark-to-market valuations, changing commodity prices, discrete income tax items, and other factors.

In preparing financial statements that conform to GAAP, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses, and the

disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

Various agreements to which Cleco is subject contain covenants that restrict its use of cash. As certain provisions under these agreements are met, cash is transferred out of related escrow accounts and becomes available for its intended purposes and/or general corporate purposes.

Reserves for Credit Losses

Customer accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Customer accounts receivable are generally considered to become past due 20 days after the billing date. Cleco recognizes write-offs within the allowance for credit losses once all recovery methods have been exhausted. It is the policy of management to review accounts receivable and unbilled revenue monthly using a reserve matrix based on historical bad debt write-offs, as well as current and forecasted economic conditions, to establish a credit loss estimate. Management’s historical credit loss analysis included periods of economic recessions, natural disasters, and temporary changes to collection policies. Due to the critical necessity of electricity, none of these past events have significantly impacted Cleco’s credit loss rates.

As a result of the market price volatility of natural gas experienced throughout 2022, Cleco has experienced significant increases to the pass-through fuel component of retail customer energy bills. Due to these increased customer fuel costs, along with the impacts of a 40-year high inflation rate, Cleco has experienced increases in credit loss reserves. These factors have not been and are not expected to be material to Cleco’s results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.

Recent Authoritative Guidance

In March 2020, FASB issued optional guidance, for a limited period of time, that applies to entities meeting certain criteria for the contract modifications or hedging relationships that are referencing LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The guidance includes a general principal that permits an entity to consider contract modifications due to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date or reassessment of a previous accounting determination. The optional guidance may be applied from March 12, 2020, through December 31, 2022. Management has identified contracts with reference rates that will be discontinued, primarily related to long-term debt obligations. Certain debt contracts have been amended to include fallback provisions that provide substitute reference rates in the event LIBOR is discontinued or deemed to no longer be representative, or prior to such events, at the option of Cleco and the administrative agent. Management will continue to modify contracts to include similar fallback language and expects to apply this guidance on an ongoing basis. Management does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on the Registrants’ results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.In November 2021, FASB issued guidance requiring annual disclosures about government assistance with the objective of increasing transparency and reducing existing diversity in practice. This guidance requires disclosure of the types of assistance, an entity’s accounting for the assistance, and the effect of the assistance on the entity’s financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. Funding is being sought for relief of incurred storm costs. In addition, a congressional appropriation has been secured, subject to the U.S. Department of Energy’s grant process, to help offset future costs associated with Cleco Power’s Project Diamond Vault. Management will continue to monitor this activity to determine what, if any, disclosures are required. Management does not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on the results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows of the Registrants.

Regulatory Assets and Liabilities

Cleco Power recognizes an asset for certain costs capitalized or deferred for recovery from customers and recognizes a liability for amounts expected to be returned to customers or collected for future expected costs. Cleco Power records these assets and liabilities based on regulatory approval and management’s ongoing assessment that it is probable these items will be recovered or refunded through the ratemaking process. Under the current regulatory environment, Cleco Power believes these regulatory assets will be fully recoverable; however, if in the future, as a result of regulatory changes or competition, Cleco Power’s ability to recover these regulatory assets would no longer be probable, then to the extent that such regulatory assets were determined not to be recoverable, Cleco Power would be required to write-down such assets. In addition, potential deregulation of the industry, or possible future changes in the method of rate regulation of Cleco Power, could require discontinuance of the application of the authoritative guidance on regulated operations.

Pension Plan and Employee Benefits

Employees hired before August 1, 2007, are covered by a non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan. Based on the funding assumptions at December 31, 2021, management estimates that no contributions will be required until 2026, at which time $5.4 million of required pension contributions are expected. Cleco has not made, and does not expect to make, any contributions to the pension plan in 2022.

Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator. Benefits under the plan reflect an employee’s years of service, age at retirement, and accrued benefit at retirement.

Cleco’s retirees may be eligible to receive Other Benefits. Dependents of Cleco’s retirees may also be eligible to receive Other Benefits with the exception of life insurance benefits.

The non-service components of net periodic pension and Other Benefits cost are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Certain Cleco officers are covered by SERP. Cleco does not fund the SERP liability, but instead pays for current benefits out of cash available of the respective company of the employed officer. Because the SERP is a non-qualified plan, Cleco has purchased life insurance policies on certain SERP participants as a mechanism to provide a source of funding. These policies are held in a rabbi trust formed by Cleco Power. The rabbi trust is the named beneficiary of the life insurance policies and, therefore, receives the proceeds upon the death of the insured participants. The life insurance policies may be used to reimburse Cleco for benefits paid from general funds, pay the SERP participants’ death benefits, or pay future SERP payments. Market conditions could have a significant impact on the cash surrender value of these life insurance policies. Because SERP is a non-qualified plan, the assets of the trust could be used to satisfy general creditors of Cleco Power in the event of insolvency. Cleco Power is the plan sponsor and Support Group is the plan administrator.The non-service components of net periodic benefit cost related to SERP are included in Other income (expense), net within Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.Cleco’s 401(k) Plan is intended to provide active, eligible employees with voluntary, long-term savings and investment opportunities. The 401(k) Plan is a defined contribution plan and is subject to the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In accordance with the 401(k) Plan, employer contributions are made in the form of cash. Cash contributions are invested in proportion to the participant’s voluntary contribution investment choices. Participation in the Plan is voluntary, and active Cleco employees are eligible to participate.

Income Taxes

Cleco classifies all interest related to uncertain tax positions as a component of interest payable and interest expense.Cleco classifies income tax penalties as a component of other expense.

Variable Interest Entities

Cleco and Cleco Power apply the equity method of accounting to report the investment in Oxbow in the consolidated financial statements. Under the equity method, the assets and liabilities of this entity are reported as Equity investment in investee on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The revenue and expenses (excluding income taxes) of this entity are netted and reported as equity income or loss from investees on Cleco’s and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Equity Method Investments