Segment Disclosures (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,187,915	$ 1,513,386	$ 1,192,569
Other operations	111,565	98,768	74,633
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(60,689)	(7,674)	(40,878)
Operating revenue, net	1,238,791	1,604,480	1,226,324
Net income	(15,227)	188,811	194,966
Add: Depreciation and amortization	209,389	195,819	194,993
Less: Interest income	5,393	5,250	3,297
Add: Interest charges	164,856	143,956	128,798
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit	(65,073)	20,035	1,333
Add (less): Other corporate costs and noncash items	144,418	(153,781)	(113,811)
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(29,869)	233,148	160,013
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	14,642	(44,337)	34,953
EBITDA	418,328	433,927	368,029
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	230,238	236,767	311,141
Equity investment in investee	1,992	2,072	2,072
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797	$ 1,490,000
Total segment assets	8,100,393	8,253,749	8,125,018
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	9,454	9,680	9,680
Cleco Power
Revenue
Electric operations	1,197,369	1,523,066	1,202,249
Other operations	111,561	98,759	74,625
Affiliate revenue	8,904	6,377	5,641
Electric customer credits	(60,689)	(7,674)	(40,878)
Operating revenue, net	1,257,145	1,620,528	1,241,637
Net income	137,149	170,057	134,088
Less: Interest income	5,011	5,082	3,294
Add: Interest charges	98,879	88,218	73,090
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit	(4,434)	2,503	(9,353)
Equity investment in investee	1,992	2,072
Total segment assets	5,429,542	5,344,173
Cleco Cajun | Natural Gas Derivatives
Revenue
Net gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives	$ (116,800)	180,500	134,100
Cleco Power
Revenue
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit	1
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations		1,523,066	1,202,249
Other operations		98,759	74,625
Affiliate revenue		6,377	5,641
Electric customer credits		(7,674)	(40,878)
Operating revenue, net		1,620,528	1,241,637
Net income		170,057	134,088
Add: Depreciation and amortization		178,231	173,498
Less: Interest income		5,082	3,294
Add: Interest charges		88,218	73,090
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit		2,503	(9,353)
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes		170,057	134,088
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		228,940	300,957
Equity investment in investee		2,072	2,072
Goodwill		1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets		6,834,970	6,620,298
CLECO POWER | Cleco Power
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,197,369	1,523,066	1,202,249
Other operations	111,561	98,759	74,625
Affiliate revenue	8,904	6,377	5,641
Electric customer credits	(60,689)	(7,674)	(40,878)
Operating revenue, net	1,257,145	1,620,528	1,241,637
Net income	137,149	170,057	134,088
Add: Depreciation and amortization	191,745	178,231	173,498
Less: Interest income	5,011	5,082	3,294
Add: Interest charges	98,879	88,218	73,090
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit	(4,434)	2,503	(9,353)
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	137,149
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0
EBITDA	418,328	433,927	368,029
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	220,982
Equity investment in investee	1,992
Goodwill	1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,920,339
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(9,454)	(9,680)	(9,680)
Other operations	5	9	8
Affiliate revenue	120,716	109,015	113,623
Electric customer credits	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	111,267	99,344	103,951
Net income	(152,376)	18,756	60,877
Add: Depreciation and amortization	17,644	17,588	21,495
Less: Interest income	571	265	125
Add: Interest charges	66,165	55,834	55,830
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit	(60,639)	17,532	10,686
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(167,018)	63,093	25,924
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	14,642	(44,337)	34,953
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	9,256	7,827	10,184
Equity investment in investee	(467,329)	(320,348)	(46,901)
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	870,743	1,237,096	1,723,191
OTHER | Cleco Power | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	9,500	9,700	9,700
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0
Other operations	(1)	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(129,620)	(115,392)	(119,264)
Electric customer credits	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(129,621)	(115,392)	(119,264)
Net income	0	(2)	1
Add: Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Less: Interest income	(189)	(97)	(122)
Add: Interest charges	(188)	(96)	(122)
Add: Federal and state income tax benefit	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations, net of income taxes	0	(2)	1
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0	0
Equity investment in investee	467,329	320,348	46,901
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	$ 309,311	$ 181,683	$ (218,471)