Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 188,811	$ 194,966	$ 122,300
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Postretirement benefits gain (loss), net of tax expense (benefit)	23,688	2,167	(8,283)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	23,688	2,167	(8,283)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	212,499	197,133	114,017
Tax (expense) benefit of postretirement benefits gain (loss)	(8,728)	(394)	2,922
Parent Company
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	188,811	194,966	122,300
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Postretirement benefits gain (loss), net of tax expense (benefit)	23,688	2,167	(8,283)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	23,688	2,167	(8,283)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	212,499	197,133	114,017
Tax (expense) benefit of postretirement benefits gain (loss)	$ (8,728)	$ (394)	$ 2,922