Disclosures about Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 2,009,427	$ 1,590,796	$ 1,370,893
Other operations	237,379	195,767	180,524
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(7,674)	(40,634)	(53,271)
Operating revenue, net	2,239,132	1,745,929	1,498,146
Net income (loss)	188,811	194,966	122,300
Add: Depreciation and amortization	270,976	251,431	232,229
Less: Interest income	6,372	3,312	3,948
Add: Interest charges	151,158	134,336	137,864
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	917	13,111	35,718
Add (less): Other corporate costs and noncash items	1,390	(7,362)	1,633
EBITDA	606,880	583,170	525,796
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	236,767	311,141	389,015
Equity investment in investee	2,072	2,072	9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797	$ 1,490,000
Total segment assets	8,253,749	8,125,018	7,725,569
Amortization of intangible assets			(500)
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	$ (25,600)	(25,600)	(25,600)
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit	1
TOTAL SEGMENTS
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 2,019,108	1,600,475	1,380,573
Other operations	247,582	203,374	186,984
Affiliate revenue	6,377	5,641	5,360
Electric customer credits	(7,674)	(40,634)	(53,272)
Operating revenue, net	2,265,393	1,768,856	1,519,645
Net income (loss)	243,887	249,720	186,147
Add: Depreciation and amortization	253,388	229,936	214,170
Less: Interest income	6,204	3,309	3,635
Add: Interest charges	88,741	73,893	73,235
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	27,068	32,930	55,879
EBITDA	606,880	583,170	525,796
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	235,807	310,038	385,964
Equity investment in investee	2,072	2,072	9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	7,854,211	7,724,388	7,286,756
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	1,523,066	1,202,249	1,015,018
Other operations	98,759	74,625	65,237
Affiliate revenue	6,377	5,641	5,156
Electric customer credits	(7,674)	(40,878)	(53,119)
Operating revenue, net	1,620,528	1,241,637	1,032,292
Net income (loss)	170,057	134,088	96,655
Add: Depreciation and amortization	178,231	173,498	166,987
Less: Interest income	5,082	3,294	3,362
Add: Interest charges	88,218	73,090	73,985
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	2,503	(9,353)	26,799
EBITDA	433,927	368,029	361,064
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	228,940	300,957	377,044
Equity investment in investee	2,072	2,072	9,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,834,970	6,620,298	6,256,944
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	496,042	398,226	365,555
Other operations	148,823	128,749	121,747
Affiliate revenue	0	0	204
Electric customer credits	0	244	(153)
Operating revenue, net	644,865	527,219	487,353
Net income (loss)	73,830	115,632	89,492
Add: Depreciation and amortization	75,157	56,438	47,183
Less: Interest income	1,122	15	273
Add: Interest charges	523	803	(750)
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	24,565	42,283	29,080
EBITDA	172,953	215,141	164,732
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	6,867	9,081	8,920
Equity investment in investee	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	1,019,241	1,104,090	1,029,812
Amortization of deferred lease income	(9,200)	(9,200)	(9,200)
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO CAJUN | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities	14,400	13,500	12,400
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(9,680)	(9,680)	(9,680)
Other operations	9	8	3
Affiliate revenue	109,015	113,623	129,126
Electric customer credits	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	99,344	103,951	119,449
Net income (loss)	(55,076)	(54,754)	(63,848)
Add: Depreciation and amortization	17,588	21,495	18,059
Less: Interest income	265	125	412
Add: Interest charges	62,513	60,564	64,728
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	(26,151)	(19,819)	(20,160)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	960	1,103	3,051
Equity investment in investee	(320,348)	(46,901)	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	217,855	619,101	595,217
OTHER | CLECO POWER | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	9,700	(9,700)	(9,700)
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	(1)	1	0
Other operations	(10,212)	(7,615)	(6,463)
Affiliate revenue	(115,392)	(119,264)	(134,486)
Electric customer credits	0	0	1
Operating revenue, net	(125,605)	(126,878)	(140,948)
Net income (loss)	0	0	1
Add: Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Less: Interest income	(97)	(122)	(99)
Add: Interest charges	(96)	(121)	(99)
Add: Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	(1)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0	0
Equity investment in investee	320,348	46,901	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	$ 181,683	$ (218,471)	$ (156,404)