Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Variable Interest Entity Equity Method [Abstract]
Total equity income	$ (1,000)	$ 2,494,000	$ 62,051,000		$ 39,212,000
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	13,081,000		13,081,000			86,732,000
Oxbow [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)			50.00%
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets	685,000		685,000			583,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,422,000		23,422,000			23,597,000
Other assets	2,148,000		2,148,000			2,141,000
Total assets	26,255,000		26,255,000			26,321,000
Current liabilities	36,000		36,000			175,000
Other liabilities	73,000		73,000
Partners' capital	26,146,000		26,146,000			26,146,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	26,255,000		26,255,000			26,321,000
Operating revenue	382,000	245,000	880,000		564,000
Operating expenses	382,000	245,000	880,000		564,000
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873,000		12,873,000			12,873,000
Contributed assets (cash and land)	200,000		200,000			200,000
Total equity investment in investee	13,073,000		13,073,000			13,073,000
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Net assets/liabilities	26,146,000		26,146,000			26,146,000
Entity's 50% equity	13,073,000		13,073,000			13,073,000
Cleco's maximum exposure to loss	13,073,000		13,073,000			13,073,000
Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Cleco Innovations [Member]
Variable Interest Entity Equity Method [Abstract]
Total equity income	(1,000)		(2,000)		1,000
Cajun [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)			50.00%	[1]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Acquisition Costs or Sale Proceeds	298,800,000		298,800,000
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets						7,133,000
Property, plant and equipment, net						203,793,000
Total assets						210,926,000
Current liabilities						1,950,000
Other liabilities						9,429,000
Partners' capital						199,547,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital						210,926,000
Operating revenue		31,883,000	5,227,000	[2]	46,508,000
Operating expenses		30,566,000	5,914,000	[2]	54,011,000
Gain on sales of assets			71,422,000	[2]	82,023,000
Other income		3,671,000	929,000	[2]	3,902,000
Income (loss) before taxes		4,988,000	71,664,000	[2]	78,422,000
Entity's share of income tax expense (benefit)		1,000,000	24,000,000	[2]	14,800,000
Variable Interest Entity Equity Method [Abstract]
Total equity income		2,494,000	62,053,000		39,211,000
Net adjustment to equity income	26,200,000		26,200,000
Impairment of investment	45,900,000		45,900,000
Capitalized interest and other	$ 19,700,000		$ 19,700,000

[1] Investment interest ceased at the April 29, 2011 sale of Acadia Unit 2.

[2] The 2011 income statement includes only activity prior to the April 29, 2011 reconsolidation.