Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 28, 2011
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CLECO CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001089819
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		60,665,607
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
CLECO POWER [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CLECO POWER LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018672
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3