Cleco Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025		Dec. 31, 2024		Dec. 31, 2023
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 195,210		$ 110,418		$ (15,227)
Adjustment to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	217,978		259,292		237,614
Provision for credit losses	2,278		2,048		5,506
Electric customer credits	0		1,300		58,700
Unearned compensation expense	30,312		38,944		36,356
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(3,039)		(2,310)		(5,747)
Loss on energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	0		5,276		103,876
Loss on Cleco Cajun Divestiture	0		43,715		173,000
Deferred lease revenue	0		0		(2,301)
Deferred income taxes	28,431		(22,504)		(75,103)
Cash surrender value of company/trust-owned life insurance	(3,869)		(2,451)		(2,211)
Derecognition of previously deferred Project Diamond Vault costs	0		10,336		0
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable			26,712
Unbilled revenue	(2,766)		(1,831)		3,184
Fuel inventory and materials and supplies	(13,250)		(68,494)		(52,621)
Prepayments	(57,673)		(10,108)		(22,438)
Accounts payable	(5,511)		(13,160)		(34,097)
Accounts payable - affiliate	(1,429)		10,685		(2,409)
Customer deposits	834		1,261		(1,369)
Postretirement benefit obligations	(22,887)		(28,989)		(2,793)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(9,372)		(5,397)		7,592
Asset retirement obligations	(2,619)		(6,701)		(7,348)
Deferred fuel recoveries	721		(4,515)		54,028
Other deferred accounts	2,374		(7,122)		(13,759)
Taxes accrued	11,931		39,636		518
Interest accrued	2,100		(2,290)		(3,330)
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	(8,466)		(8,973)		(6,500)
Storm reserve	(6,876)		(37,094)		2,790
Incentive compensation payable	(35,544)		(34,423)		(31,387)
Other operating	(5,835)		2,831		6,019
Net cash provided by operating activities	275,833		285,719		415,890
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(348,862)		(274,247)		(263,824)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	1,176		805		956
Customer advances for construction	7,191		18,058		31,888
Refunds of customer advances for construction	(3,078)		0		0
Return of investment in company/trust-owned life insurance	1,070		0		417
Payments received on note receivable	0		11,914		822
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations (net of transaction fees of $10.8 million)	0		463,769		0
Other investing	294		276		227
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(342,209)		220,575		(229,514)
Financing activities
Draws on revolving credit facilities	193,000		142,000		125,000
Payments on revolving credit facilities	(313,000)		(132,000)		(124,000)
Issuances of securitized debt	305,000		0		0
Issuances of long-term debt	349,218		16,599		100,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(268,301)		(487,798)		(175,174)
Payment of financing costs	(8,784)		(7)		(375)
Credit deposits	0		7,750		7,000
Refunds of credit deposits	(10,350)		0		0
Distributions to member	0		(145,005)		(53,496)
Other financing	0		(1,017)		(836)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	246,783		(599,478)		(121,881)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents	180,407		(93,184)		64,495
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of period	162,883	[1]	256,067		191,572
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	343,290	[1]	162,883	[1]	256,067
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	144,621		155,670		170,680
Income taxes paid	5,371		9,138		2,162
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	22,163		11,470		8,533
Nonrelated Party
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	(33,272)		26,712		14,792
Affiliate
Changes in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable	$ (3,928)		$ (10,373)		$ (9,445)

[1] (1) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $30,472, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $15,918, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $116,493. (2) Includes cash and cash equivalents of $171,056, current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $33,865, and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $138,369.