Fair Value Accounting and Financial Instruments - Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives (Details) - DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	$ 91,811	$ 108,876	$ 255,395	$ 167,009
Price risk derivatives | Accumulated deferred fuel
Commodity-related contracts
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	(1,400)	1,200	200	500
Price risk derivatives | CLECO POWER
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	2,722	1,137	7,302	1,931
Price risk derivatives | CLECO POWER | Accumulated deferred fuel
Commodity-related contracts
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	(1,400)	1,200	200	500
Price risk derivatives | Electric operations
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	5,297	1,959	12,960	11,167
Price risk derivatives | Electric operations | CLECO POWER
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	5,297	1,959	12,960	11,167
Price risk derivatives | Purchased power
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	2,137	(770)	(7,829)	(9,742)
Price risk derivatives | Purchased power | CLECO POWER
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	(2,575)	(822)	(5,658)	(9,236)
Natural gas derivatives
Commodity-related contracts
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	84,377	$ 107,687	$ 250,264	$ 165,584
Natural gas derivatives | Accumulated deferred fuel
Commodity-related contracts
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	(100)
Natural gas derivatives | CLECO POWER | Accumulated deferred fuel
Commodity-related contracts
Unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs	$ (100)