Variable Interest Entities - Schedule of Cleco Securitization I Financial Statement Impact (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	$ 7,684		$ 15,818
Total assets	8,056,962		8,100,393
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	257,298		256,811
Interest accrued	41,120		22,209
Long-term debt and finance leases, net	3,132,317		3,141,924
Total liabilities	5,241,319		5,227,220
Member’s equity	2,815,643	$ 2,842,623	2,873,173	$ 2,947,067
Total liabilities and member’s equity	8,056,962		8,100,393
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	276,842	320,581
Operating expenses	(291,219)	(363,509)
Interest income	1,408	1,267
Interest charges, net	(42,792)	(40,005)
Income before taxes	(51,522)	(79,382)
Storm recover property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	395,331		398,658
Related Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	24,247		24,216
Accounts payable - affiliate	10,688		10,683
Nonrelated Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	42,473		48,949
Accounts payable - affiliate	77,758		119,801
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	7,684		15,818
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	14,790		14,499
Interest accrued	1,522		6,191
Long-term debt and finance leases, net	386,965		394,944
Member’s equity	2,133		2,158
Total liabilities and member’s equity	405,487		417,968
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	8,036	9,177
Operating expenses	(3,466)	(4,354)
Interest income	228	158
Interest charges, net	(4,773)	(4,956)
Income before taxes	25	25
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Storm recover property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	395,331		398,658
Total assets	405,487		417,968
Total liabilities	403,354		415,810
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Related Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,472		3,492
Accounts payable - affiliate	62		176
VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Nonrelated Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts Payable	15		0
CLECO POWER
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	7,684		15,818
Total assets	5,374,263		5,429,542
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	190,679		190,314
Interest accrued	23,836		11,752
Long-term debt and finance leases, net	1,689,187		1,697,152
Member’s equity	2,016,843	2,045,888	2,063,237	$ 2,022,912
Total liabilities and member’s equity	5,374,263		5,429,542
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	288,034	324,688
Operating expenses	(274,029)	(279,765)
Interest income	1,288	1,185
Interest charges, net	(25,514)	(24,855)
Income before taxes	(7,608)	24,307
CLECO POWER | Storm recover property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	395,331		398,658
CLECO POWER | Related Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	4,083		4,543
Accounts payable - affiliate	10,661		13,200
CLECO POWER | Nonrelated Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	42,473		48,949
Accounts payable - affiliate	68,541		95,565
CLECO POWER | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current	7,684		15,818
Long-term debt and finance leases due within one year	14,790		14,499
Interest accrued	1,522		6,191
Long-term debt and finance leases, net	386,965		394,944
Member’s equity	2,133		2,158
Total liabilities and member’s equity	405,487		417,968
Income Statement Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Operating revenue	8,036	9,177
Operating expenses	(3,466)	(4,354)
Interest income	228	158
Interest charges, net	(4,773)	(4,956)
Income before taxes	25	$ 25
CLECO POWER | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Storm recover property
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Intangible asset - securitization	395,331		398,658
Total assets	405,487		417,968
Total liabilities	403,354		415,810
CLECO POWER | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Related Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,472		3,492
Accounts payable - affiliate	62		176
CLECO POWER | VIE, Primary Beneficiary - Cleco Securitization I | Nonrelated Party
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]
Accounts Payable	$ 15		$ 0