Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	$ 755,764,000	$ 661,376,000
Decrease to regulatory liability, deferred tax, net		47,060,000
Interest payable related to uncertain tax positions	0	0
Interest expense related to uncertain tax positions	0	0	$ 0
Liability for uncertain tax positions	0	0
Penalties recognized	0	0	0
Deferred employer payroll tax payments		6,000,000
Deferred employer payroll tax payments to be paid year one		3,000,000
Deferred employer payroll tax payments to be paid year two		3,000,000
Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	707,479,000	634,598,000
Decrease to regulatory liability, deferred tax, net		47,060,000
Interest payable related to uncertain tax positions	0	0
Interest expense related to uncertain tax positions	0	0	$ 0
Liability for uncertain tax positions	0	0
Regulatory liability	95,544,000	180,565,000
Deferred employer payroll tax payments		3,600,000
Deferred employer payroll tax payments to be paid year one		1,800,000
Deferred employer payroll tax payments to be paid year two		1,800,000
Deferred taxes, net | Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Regulatory liability	95,544,000	175,584,000
LPSC | Excess A D I T
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Regulatory liability	302,000,000	352,400,000
LPSC | Excess A D I T | Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Regulatory liability	302,000,000	352,400,000
NMTC
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
NMTC carryforwards	92,400,000	92,400,000
Valuation allowance	0
NMTC | Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	0
Federal
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	218,400,000	550,000,000
Federal | Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	249,600,000	187,800,000
State
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	20,000,000
Decrease to regulatory liability, deferred tax, net	20,000,000
Operating loss carryforwards	252,900,000	186,100,000
State | Cleco Power
Valuation Allowance [Line Items]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	20,000,000
Decrease to regulatory liability, deferred tax, net	20,000,000
Operating loss carryforwards	$ 252,900,000	$ 186,100,000