Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Fuel Transportation Agreement and Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
Current liabilities	$ 1,841,000	$ 1,662,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Analysis of leased property under capital leases by major classes [Abstract]
Less: accumulated amortization	6,567,000	4,362,000
Net capital leases	15,483,000	17,688,000
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2012	4,681,000
2013	4,668,000
2014	4,668,000
2015	4,668,000
2016	4,681,000
Thereafter	9,441,000
Total minimum lease payments	32,807,000
Less: executory costs	8,567,000
Net minimum lease payments	24,240,000
Less: amount representing interest	6,702,000
Present value of net minimum lease payments	17,538,000
Current liabilities	1,841,000	1,662,000
Non-current liabilities	15,697,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Barges [Member]
Fuel Transportation Agreement [Abstract]
Number of barges under capital lease (in units)	42
Lease rate - fixed component (in dollars per day per unit)	225
Lease rate - variable component (in dollars per day per unit)	75
Basis of variable component	Producer Price Index (PPI)
Payments made under capital lease	4,700,000	4,700,000
Term of capital lease and extensions thereto	The initial term of this agreement is five years and unless renewed, the agreement will terminate on December 31, 2013.  Cleco Power has an option to renew this agreement for a second five-year term in full or in part and, at its option, purchase any or all of the dedicated barges.
Capital lease term	5 years
Barge purchase option, purchase amount	21,700,000
Analysis of leased property under capital leases by major classes [Abstract]
Total capital leases	$ 22,050,000	$ 22,050,000