Pension Plan and Employee Benefits - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2026	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Pension
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Consecutive calendar years		5 years
Most recent period of employment		10 years
Estimated pension contributions required through 2029		$ 59,800,000
Estimated pension contributions required through next year		16,800,000
Employer contributions		16,500,000	$ 25,750,000	$ 0
Net actuarial gain (loss)		$ 6,639,000	$ 6,310,000
Discount rate		5.66%	5.13%	5.44%
Expected return on plan assets		7.07%	6.68%	6.60%
Actual return on plan assets		11.16%	1.90%
SERP net actuarial gain		$ (5,913,000)	$ 25,647,000
Pension | Other Subsidiaries
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost		1,000,000.0	1,800,000	$ 1,900,000
Other benefits
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net actuarial gain (loss)		(1,346,000)	$ 1,964,000
Assets set aside in a trust		$ 0
Discount rate		5.61%	5.25%	5.61%
Assumed health care cost trend rates for next fiscal year		5.00%
Assumed health care cost trend rates thereafter next fiscal year		5.00%
Ultimate health care trend rate		5.00%
SERP net actuarial gain		$ (1,346,000)	$ 2,011,000
Other benefits | Forecast
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate	5.60%
Expected return on plan assets	6.95%
Increase in expected pension costs	$ 1,000,000.0
Other benefits | Cleco Power
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost		4,100,000	4,300,000	$ 3,500,000
SERP BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net actuarial gain (loss)		(1,176,000)	2,814,000
Net periodic benefit cost		$ 3,158,000	$ 3,181,000	$ 3,468,000
Discount rate		5.65%	5.13%	5.46%
SERP net actuarial gain		$ (1,177,000)	$ 2,814,000
SERP BENEFITS | Cleco Power
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net periodic benefit cost		$ 600,000	$ 500,000	$ 500,000