Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Net income	$ 65,842	$ 49,612	$ 165,205	$ 234,768
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Amortization of post-retirement benefit net income (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit	269	9	910	(9)
Cash flow hedges:
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18,219)	(128)	(17,687)	(163)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	47,623	49,484	147,518	234,605
CLECO POWER [Member]
Net income	53,833	52,335	119,557	123,584
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Amortization of post-retirement benefit net income (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit	146	(89)	519	(274)
Cash flow hedges:
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18,342)	(226)	(18,078)	(428)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	35,491	52,109	101,479	123,156
CLECO POWER [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized gain(loss) on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit)	0	(231)	0	(441)
CLECO POWER [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification, net of tax expense (benefit)	0	119	0	364
CLECO POWER [Member] | Treasury Rate Locks [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized gain(loss) on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit)	(18,433)	0	(18,433)	0
CLECO POWER [Member] | Treasury Rate Locks [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification, net of tax expense (benefit)	(55)	(25)	(164)	(77)
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized gain(loss) on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit)	0	(231)	0	(441)
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification, net of tax expense (benefit)	0	119	0	364
Treasury Rate Locks [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized gain(loss) on derivatives, net of tax expense (benefit)	(18,433)	0	(18,433)	0
Treasury Rate Locks [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification, net of tax expense (benefit)	$ (55)	$ (25)	$ (164)	$ (77)