Debt - Total Indebtedness (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 14, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt due within one year	$ (66,497)		$ (230,524)
Finance leases classified as long-term debt due within one year	(925)		(836)
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(2,776)		(3,877)
Fair value adjustment	97,345		104,748
Total long-term debt and finance leases, net	3,141,924		3,139,094
Deferred debt issuance costs eliminated as a result of the 2016 Merger	$ 4,300		4,600
Senior notes, 3.250%, due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.25%
Gross debt	$ 165,000		165,000
Senior notes, 3.743%, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.743%
Gross debt	$ 535,000		535,000
Senior notes, 3.375%, due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.375%
Gross debt	$ 300,000		300,000
Senior notes, 4.973%, due 2046
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.973%
Gross debt	$ 350,000		350,000
Bank term loan, variable rate, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank term loan, variable rate, due 2024	66,700		132,300
Cleco Power
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross debt	1,765,426		1,775,000
Barge lease obligations	12,971		13,807
Gross amount of long-term debt and finance leases	1,903,397		1,913,807
Long-term debt due within one year	(189,389)		(109,508)
Finance leases classified as long-term debt due within one year	(925)		(836)
Unamortized debt discount	(4,178)		(4,492)
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(11,753)		(12,524)
Total long-term debt and finance leases, net	$ 1,697,152		1,786,447
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 3.08%, due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.08%
Gross debt	$ 0		100,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 3.17%, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.17%
Gross debt	$ 50,000		50,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 3.68%, due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.68%
Gross debt	$ 75,000		75,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 3.47%, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.47%
Gross debt	$ 130,000		130,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 5.96%, due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.96%	5.96%
Gross debt	$ 100,000		0
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 4.33%, due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.33%
Gross debt	$ 50,000		50,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 3.57%, due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.57%
Gross debt	$ 200,000		200,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.50%
Gross debt	$ 295,000		295,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.00%
Gross debt	$ 250,000		250,000
Cleco Power | Senior notes, 5.12%, due 2041
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.12%
Gross debt	$ 100,000		100,000
Cleco Power | Series A GO Zone bonds, 2.50%, due 2038, mandatory tender in 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.50%
Gross debt	$ 50,000		50,000
Cleco Power | Series B GO Zone bonds, 4.25%, due 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.25%
Gross debt	$ 50,000		50,000
Cleco Power | Cleco Securitization I’s storm recovery bonds, 4.016%, due 2033
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.016%
Gross debt	$ 115,426		125,000
Cleco Power | Cleco Securitization I’s storm recovery bonds, 4.646%, due 2044
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	4.646%
Gross debt	$ 300,000		300,000
Cleco Power | Bank term loan, variable rate, due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank term loan, variable rate, due 2024	125,000		125,000
Cleco Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$ (7,000)		$ (8,500)