Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Long-Term Purchase Obligations (Details) (Cleco Power [Member], Purchase of coal, petroleum coke, limestone, entergy capacity and energy delivery facilities [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cleco Power [Member] | Purchase of coal, petroleum coke, limestone, entergy capacity and energy delivery facilities [Member]
Payments required under long-term purchase obligations [Abstract]
2012	$ 85,057,000
2013	70,240,000
2014	47,670,000
2015	21,300,000
2016	21,639,000
Total long-term purchase obligations	245,906,000
Long-Term Purchase Obligations [Abstract]
Payments under long-term purchase obligations	$ 97,400,000	$ 56,700,000	$ 43,500,000