Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ 310,528	$ 311,253
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	10,053	1,374
Operating revenue, net	320,581	312,627
Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	238,186	239,224
Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	107,196	112,423
Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	77,657	76,534
Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	49,410	46,274
Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,574	4,129
Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(651)	(136)
Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	54,263	52,944
Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	12,530	13,892
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	5,549	5,193
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	827	1,374
Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Securitization
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	9,226
OPERATING SEGMENTS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Operating revenue, net	324,688	316,504
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	314,636	315,132
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	10,052	1,372
Operating revenue, net	324,688	316,504
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	238,186	239,224
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	107,196	112,423
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	77,657	76,534
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	49,410	46,274
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,574	4,129
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(651)	(136)
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	56,683	55,364
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	12,530	13,892
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	5,549	5,193
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	826	1,372
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	1,688	1,459
OPERATING SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER | Securitization
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	9,226
OTHER
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	25,094	24,973
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	1	1
Operating revenue, net	25,095	24,974
OTHER | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(2,420)	(2,420)
OTHER | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
OTHER | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	1	1
OTHER | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	27,514	27,393
OTHER | Securitization
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	0
ELIMINATIONS
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(29,202)	(28,852)
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	0	1
Operating revenue, net	(29,202)	(28,851)
ELIMINATIONS | Total retail revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Residential
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Commercial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Industrial
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Other retail
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Electric customer credits
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Wholesale, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Transmission, net
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
ELIMINATIONS | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	0	1
ELIMINATIONS | Affiliate
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue from contracts with customers	(29,202)	$ (28,852)
ELIMINATIONS | Securitization
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue unrelated to contracts with customers	$ 0