Regulation and Rates - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 21, 2022	Jul. 01, 2021	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 02, 2024	Sep. 30, 2022	Jan. 31, 2022	Jun. 16, 2021
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Provision for rate refund			$ 60,768	$ 3,074
Electric customer credits			58,700	0	$ 0
Regulatory asset			571,820	564,123
Estimated range of potential loss			6,700
Regulatory liabilities - deferred taxes, net			21,939	42,890
Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability			133,448	161,652
Provision for rate refund			60,768	3,074
Electric customer credits			58,700	0	$ 0
Regulatory asset			587,661	598,100
Regulatory liabilities - deferred taxes, net			21,939	42,890
Cleco Power | St. Mary Clean Energy Center
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory asset			3,705	4,350
Cleco Power | LPSC | Dolet Hills
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual			58,700
Cleco Power | LPSC | St. Mary Clean Energy Center
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Disallowed recovery costs	$ 15,000
Impairment of regulatory asset	13,800
Refund to retail customers	10,400
Provision for rate refund	10,400						$ 10,400
Electric customer credits	6,600
Regulatory asset	$ 3,800
Cleco Power | LPSC | Maximum | Dolet Hills
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Estimated range of potential loss								$ 228,000
Cleco Power | LPSC | Maximum | Dolet Hills | Subsequent Event
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Estimated range of potential loss						$ 228,000
Cleco Power | LPSC | Minimum | Dolet Hills
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Estimated range of potential loss								$ 58,700
Cleco Power | LPSC | Minimum | Dolet Hills | Subsequent Event
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Estimated range of potential loss						$ 58,700
Cleco Power | FRP | LPSC
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Public utilities, approved return on equity, percentage		9.50%
Public utilities, return on equity, percentage of retail earnings due to customers, within range		60.00%
Public utilities, return on equity for customer refund, low range		10.00%
Return on equity for customer refund, high range		10.50%
Cleco Power | FRP | LPSC | Maximum
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Public utilities, approved return on equity, percentage		10.00%
Deferred operations and maintenance costs | Cleco Power
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability			9,900	5,300
Excess ADIT | LPSC
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability			211,500	257,400
Excess ADIT | Cleco Power | LPSC
Public Utilities, General Disclosures [Line Items]
Regulatory liability			211,500	$ 257,400
Bill credit related to unprotected excess ADIT		$ 2,500
Regulatory liabilities amortization period									3 years
Regulatory liabilities - deferred taxes, net			$ 21,900