Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Cleco Securitization I Financial Statement Impact (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash - current	$ 23,549	$ 1,674
Accounts receivable - affiliate	14,613	3,041
Total assets	8,253,749	8,125,018	$ 7,725,569
Long-term debt outstanding, due within one year	340,867	93,455
Accounts payable - affiliate	13,092	51,297
Interest accrued	25,540	15,203
Long-term debt, net	3,139,094	3,390,033
Member’s equity	2,947,067	2,954,156	2,757,023	$ 2,643,006
Total liabilities and member’s equity	8,253,749	8,125,018
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	2,239,132	1,745,929	1,498,146
Operating expenses	(1,897,245)	(1,401,052)	(1,193,054)
Interest income	6,372	3,312	3,948
Interest charges, net	(152,975)	(137,050)	(139,272)
Income before taxes	189,728	208,077	158,018
Storm recovery property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	413,123	0
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash - current	14,139
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,348
Total assets	430,610
Long-term debt outstanding, due within one year	9,574
Accounts payable - affiliate	165
Interest accrued	9,953
Long-term debt, net	408,741
Member’s equity	2,177
Total liabilities and member’s equity	430,610
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	13,181
Operating expenses	(2,992)
Interest income	63
Interest charges, net	(10,200)
Income before taxes	52
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Storm recovery property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	413,123
Cleco Power
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash - current	23,549	1,674
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,771	13,612
Total assets	5,344,173	5,129,501
Long-term debt outstanding, due within one year	110,344	25,755
Accounts payable - affiliate	12,448	69,729
Interest accrued	15,276	5,080
Long-term debt, net	1,786,447	1,800,854
Member’s equity	2,022,912	1,948,537	1,807,879	$ 1,713,392
Total liabilities and member’s equity	5,344,173	5,129,501
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	1,620,528	1,241,637	1,032,292
Operating expenses	(1,361,491)	(1,037,450)	(826,954)
Interest income	5,082	3,294	3,362
Interest charges, net	(90,035)	(75,804)	(75,393)
Income before taxes	172,560	124,735	$ 123,454
Cleco Power | Storm recovery property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	413,123	$ 0
Cleco Power | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash - current	14,139
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,348
Total assets	430,610
Long-term debt outstanding, due within one year	9,574
Accounts payable - affiliate	165
Interest accrued	9,953
Long-term debt, net	408,741
Member’s equity	2,177
Total liabilities and member’s equity	430,610
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	13,181
Operating expenses	(2,992)
Interest income	63
Interest charges, net	(10,200)
Income before taxes	52
Cleco Power | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Storm recovery property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	$ 413,123