Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Holdings (Parent Company Only) - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	$ (65,073)	$ 20,035	$ 1,333
Parent Company
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	(19,048)	(21,662)	(14,454)
Equity income from subsidiaries - federal and state income tax (benefit) expense	$ (44,268)	$ 22,579	$ 27,565