Disclosures about Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 311,157	$ 312,949
Other operations	44,908	39,397
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Electric customer credits	(8,493)	(8,160)
Operating revenue, net	347,572	344,186
Depreciation and amortization	55,873	49,856
Interest income	1,157	1,491
Interest charges	35,149	33,999
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	1,562	5,986
Net income (loss)	6,328	20,557
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	65,624	83,679
Equity investment in investees	17,072		$ 17,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total segment assets	7,676,195		7,476,298
Operating Segments | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	224,430	257,175
Other operations	15,764	19,430
Affiliate revenue	1,106	300
Electric customer credits	(8,340)	(8,160)
Operating revenue, net	232,960	268,745
Depreciation and amortization	43,677	42,377
Interest income	954	994
Interest charges	18,581	17,145
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	3,338	7,998
Net income (loss)	11,831	26,712
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	61,477	81,040
Equity investment in investees	17,072		17,072
Goodwill	1,490,797		1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,098,446		5,967,327
Operating Segments | CLECO CAJUN
Revenue
Electric operations	89,147	58,194
Other operations	30,961	19,965
Affiliate revenue	161	0
Electric customer credits	(153)	0
Operating revenue, net	120,116	78,159
Depreciation and amortization	10,103	5,410
Interest income	155	254
Interest charges	10	0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	6,421	3,529
Net income (loss)	19,535	11,056
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	3,341	1,530
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	1,020,099		1,011,591
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(2,420)	(2,420)
Other operations	1	2
Affiliate revenue	29,278	26,535
Electric customer credits	0	0
Operating revenue, net	26,859	24,117
Depreciation and amortization	2,094	2,069
Interest income	100	417
Interest charges	16,610	17,028
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(8,197)	(5,540)
Net income (loss)	(25,039)	(17,210)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	806	1,109
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	616,068		546,096
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Other operations	(1,818)	0
Affiliate revenue	(30,545)	(26,835)
Electric customer credits	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(32,363)	(26,835)
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	0
Interest income	(52)	(174)
Interest charges	(52)	(174)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	0	(1)
Net income (loss)	1	(1)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	$ 0
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Goodwill	0		0
Total segment assets	$ (58,418)		$ (48,716)