Cleco Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023		Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021
Operating activities
Net (loss) income	$ (15,227)		$ 188,811		$ 194,966
Adjustment to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	237,614		289,486		273,392
Provision for credit losses	5,506		3,357		5,471
Regulatory disallowance	0		13,841		0
Electric customer credits	58,700		0		0
Unearned compensation expense	10,102		5,502		6,678
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(5,747)		(3,740)		(9,905)
Loss (gain) on energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	103,876		(21,805)		(80,314)
Loss on classification as held for sale	173,000		0		0
Deferred lease revenue	(2,301)		(9,205)		(9,205)
Deferred income taxes	(75,103)		(7,911)		13,954
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(2,211)		1,266		(9,438)
Changes in assets and liabilities
Unbilled revenue	3,184		(8,377)		2,464
Fuel inventory and materials and supplies	(52,621)		(43,703)		30,254
Prepayments	(22,438)		(15,846)		(12,097)
Accounts payable	(37,827)		20,711		(2,379)
Accounts payable - affiliate	(2,409)		(38,206)		10,014
Customer deposits	5,311		6,778		11,241
Provision for merger commitments	0		0		(2,620)
Postretirement benefit obligations	(2,793)		(847)		7,106
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	7,592		21,537		(163,788)
Deferred fuel recoveries	54,028		8,742		(29,405)
Asset retirement obligations	(7,348)		(4,958)		(959)
Other deferred accounts	(1,632)		(7,333)		(13,032)
Taxes accrued	225		11,337		(10,145)
Interest accrued	(3,330)		10,337		(380)
Energy risk management collateral	(6,500)		6,500		0
Other operating	874		(8,205)		(1,989)
Net cash provided by operating activities	421,192		344,912		182,640
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(230,238)		(236,767)		(311,141)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	956		993		1,654
Return of equity investment in investee	80		0		7,000
Return of investment in company-/trust-owned life insurance	417		41,671		820
Other investing	969		846		834
Net cash used in investing activities	(227,816)		(193,257)		(300,833)
Financing activities
Draws on revolving credit facilities	125,000		226,000		185,000
Payments on revolving credit facilities	(124,000)		(117,000)		(260,000)
Issuances of long-term debt	100,000		424,946		325,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(175,174)		(417,700)		(66,000)
Payment of financing costs	(375)		(6,968)		(4,408)
Distributions to member	(53,496)		(219,588)		0
Other financing	(836)		(755)		(682)
Net cash used in financing activities	(128,881)		(111,065)		178,910
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	64,495		40,590		60,717
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	191,572	[1]	150,982		90,265
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	256,067	[1]	191,572	[1]	150,982
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	170,680		131,760		126,061
Income taxes paid, net	2,162		0		72
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	5,052		10,247		10,369
Reduction in property, plant, and equipment due to regulatory disallowance	0		13,841		0
Reduction in property, plant, and equipment due to securitization of capitalized storm costs	0		197,689		0
Nonrelated Party
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	8,112		(61,848)		(25,865)
Affiliate
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	$ (9,445)		$ (11,309)		$ (1,379)

[1] (1) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $54,541, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $23,549, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $109,415. Also includes cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash equivalents in assets held for sale of $4,067. (2) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $122,576, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $15,818, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $113,573. Also includes cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash equivalents in assets held for sale of $4,100.