Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 324,532	$ 325,629	$ 823,484	$ 839,528
Tolling operations	9,133	11,153	16,137	23,016
Other operations	16,064	13,305	41,775	34,425
Affiliate revenue	0	119	202	1,426
Gross operating revenue	349,729	350,206	881,598	898,395
Electric customer credits	1,852	(6,314)	(3,405)	(6,314)
Operating revenue, net	351,581	343,892	878,193	892,081
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	122,774	100,587	298,009	276,727
Power purchased for utility customers	24,739	51,678	58,665	124,404
Other operations	32,872	30,288	92,206	86,786
Maintenance	14,587	23,362	59,666	58,832
Depreciation	30,557	28,847	89,641	82,899
Taxes other than income taxes	9,845	9,123	28,770	26,490
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	27	20	(468)	(37)
Total operating expenses	235,401	243,905	626,489	656,101
Operating income	116,180	99,987	251,704	235,980
Interest income	509	128	794	369
Allowance for other funds used during construction	902	887	3,757	11,052
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax	(1)	2,494	62,051	39,212
Gain on toll settlement			0	148,402
Other income	2,128	2,755	3,330	3,563
Other expense	(3,360)	(1,416)	(4,969)	(4,379)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium, and discount	26,105	25,404	79,368	76,074
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(326)	(336)	(1,357)	(4,054)
Total interest charges	25,779	25,068	78,011	72,020
Income before income taxes	90,579	79,767	238,656	362,179
Federal and state income tax expense	24,737	30,155	73,451	127,411
Net income	65,842	49,612	165,205	234,768
Preferred dividends requirements, net of tax	0	12	26	35
Preferred stock redemption costs, net of tax			112	0
Net income applicable to common stock	65,842	49,600	165,067	234,733
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,467,595	60,471,183	60,549,860	60,405,388
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,873,311	60,825,298	60,830,251	60,632,138
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.09	$ 0.82	$ 2.73	$ 3.89
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 0.82	$ 2.71	$ 3.87
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.25	$ 0.81	$ 0.725
CLECO POWER [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	324,532	325,629	823,484	839,528
Other operations	15,565	12,819	40,261	32,959
Affiliate revenue	347	343	1,041	1,029
Gross operating revenue	340,444	338,791	864,786	873,516
Electric customer credits	1,852	(6,314)	(3,405)	(6,314)
Operating revenue, net	342,296	332,477	861,381	867,202
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	122,774	100,587	298,009	276,727
Power purchased for utility customers	24,739	51,678	58,665	124,404
Other operations	31,185	28,650	87,086	81,111
Maintenance	15,768	20,272	53,962	51,697
Depreciation	28,859	27,133	84,543	77,941
Taxes other than income taxes	8,802	9,161	25,585	25,110
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(6)	7	(7)	47
Total operating expenses	232,121	237,488	607,843	637,037
Operating income	110,175	94,989	253,538	230,165
Interest income	276	117	557	351
Allowance for other funds used during construction	902	887	3,757	11,052
Other income	1,323	293	2,168	1,038
Other expense	(1,881)	(1,339)	(4,499)	(3,619)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium, and discount	25,632	16,380	75,386	61,158
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(326)	(336)	(1,357)	(4,054)
Total interest charges	25,306	16,044	74,029	57,104
Income before income taxes	85,489	78,903	181,492	181,883
Federal and state income tax expense	31,656	26,568	61,935	58,299
Net income	$ 53,833	$ 52,335	$ 119,557	$ 123,584