Consolidated Statements of Changes in Member's Equity (USD $)	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2008			$ 929,178,000	$ 934,354,000	$ (5,176,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,458,000)	(1,458,000)	(495,000)		(495,000)
Distribution to parent			(30,000,000)	(30,000,000)
Net income	106,307,000		111,166,000	111,166,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2009			1,009,849,000	1,015,520,000	(5,671,000)
Distribution to parent			(25,000,000)
Net income			32,160,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Mar. 31, 2010
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2009			1,009,849,000	1,015,520,000	(5,671,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(347,000)	(347,000)	937,000	0	937,000
Distribution to parent			(150,000,000)	(150,000,000)
Non-cash property donation, net of tax			225,732,000	225,732,000
Net income	255,391,000		147,405,000	147,405,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2010			1,233,923,000	1,238,657,000	(4,734,000)
Member's Equity, Balance at Sep. 30, 2010
Distribution to parent			(25,000,000)
Net income			23,821,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2010			1,233,923,000
Distribution to parent			(30,000,000)
Net income			30,030,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Mar. 31, 2011
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2010			1,233,923,000	1,238,657,000	(4,734,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(16,501,000)	(16,501,000)	(15,896,000)	0	(15,896,000)
Distribution to parent			(130,000,000)	(130,000,000)
Net income	195,848,000		142,835,000	142,835,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2011			1,230,862,000	1,251,492,000	(20,630,000)
Member's Equity, Balance at Sep. 30, 2011
Distribution to parent			(50,000,000)
Net income			23,278,000
Member's Equity, Balance at Dec. 31, 2011			$ 1,230,862,000