Variable Interest Entities - Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 783,867	$ 767,960
Total assets	8,253,749	8,125,018	$ 7,725,569
Current liabilities	872,697	513,162
Total liabilities and member’s equity	8,253,749	8,125,018
Operating revenue	2,239,132	1,745,929	1,498,146
Cleco Power
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	490,137	465,414
Total assets	5,344,173	5,129,501
Current liabilities	454,228	355,221
Partners’ capital	4,145	4,145
Total liabilities and member’s equity	5,344,173	5,129,501
Operating revenue	1,620,528	1,241,637	1,032,292
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees | Cleco Power
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Current assets	6,187	6,979
Total assets	9,985	10,777
Current liabilities	395	393
Other liabilities	5,445	6,239
Partners’ capital	4,145	4,145
Total liabilities and member’s equity	9,985	10,777
Operating revenue	332	5,155	34,827
Operating expenses	(332)	(5,155)	(34,827)
Income before taxes	0	0	$ 0
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees | Cleco Power | Property, plant, and equipment, net
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Property, plant, and equipment, net	$ 3,798	$ 3,798