Restricted Cash, Remaining From Pollution Control Bond

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Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, and cash and cash equivalents restricted to withdrawal or usage; excluding effect from exchange rate change. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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The cash outflow for investments in restricted cash from pollution control bond, which is a debt security issued by a state, certain agencies or authorities, a local government, or development corporation to finance the construction of air- or water-pollution control facilities or sewage or solid waste disposal facilities pursuant to federal law. The bonds are backed by the credit of the beneficiary of the financing rather than the credit of the issuer.

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The cash inflow from amounts received from distributions of restricted cash from pollution control bond, which is a debt security issued by a state, certain agencies or authorities, a local government, or development corporation to finance the construction of air- or water-pollution control facilities or sewage or solid waste disposal facilities pursuant to federal law. The bonds are backed by the credit of the beneficiary of the financing rather than the credit of the issuer.

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Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as current. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as noncurrent. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	$ 4,545	$ 11,100
Non-current	744	15,203
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,289	26,303
Remaining restricted cash to be used for final administration and winding up activities	2,600
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	52,330	(2,509)	$ 12,116
Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	2,626	9,632
Cleco Power’s charitable contributions
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	1,718	1,200
Non-current	0	2,094
Cleco Power’s rate credit escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	201	268
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Non-current	22	21
Cleco Cajun’s defense fund
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Non-current	722	719
Cleco Cajun’s margin deposits
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Non-current	0	100
Future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Non-current	0	12,269
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,300
Future storm restoration costs \| Deferred storm restoration costs - Hurricane Laura
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,300
Future storm restoration costs \| Other Storms
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,000
Cleco Katrina/Rita scheduled storm recovery bond principal payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Payments for investment in restricted cash from pollution control bond	11,100
Cleco Katrina/Rita related interest payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Payments for investment in restricted cash from pollution control bond	300
Cleco Katrina/Rita administrative fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Payments from distribution in restricted cash from pollution control bond	4,400
CLECO POWER
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	4,545	11,100
Non-current	0	14,363
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,545	25,463
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	51,561	(19,075)	$ 41,080
CLECO POWER \| Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	2,626	9,632
CLECO POWER \| Cleco Power’s charitable contributions
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	1,718	1,200
Non-current	0	2,094
CLECO POWER \| Cleco Power’s rate credit escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Current	201	268
CLECO POWER \| Future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Non-current	$ 0	$ 12,269