Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Oxbow Lignite Mine Acquisition and Risks and Uncertainties (Details) (Cleco Power [Member], Oxbow [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 T
Cleco Power [Member] \| Oxbow [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%
Purchase price of lignite reserves	$ 12,900,000
Amount paid by third party for mining equipment and related assets and permits	$ 15,600,000
Amount of controlled lignite reserves (in tons)	43,000,000

The amount paid by third party to acquire the mining equipment and related assets and permits.

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_AmountPaidByThirdPartyForMiningEquipmentAndRelatedAssetsAndPermits
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The approximate amount of lignite reserves contained within the Oxbow Mine permit area, together with the reserves from the Dolet Hills Lignite Mine, in tons.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cnl_ApproximateLigniteReserves
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 12

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6970148&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration