Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 93,576	$ 191,128	$ 145,193	$ 97,483
Accounts receivable - affiliate	0	831
Other accounts receivable	42,051	52,546
Taxes receivable	44,584	50,104
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	29,249	4,106
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	51,073	49,789
Total current assets	456,785	608,850
Equity investment in investees	14,540	86,732	251,617
Total assets	4,050,202	4,161,410	3,694,847
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	150,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	0	155
Other current liabilities	17,154	14,302
Total current liabilities	321,002	477,681
Deferred credits	972,287	965,813
Total liabilities	2,630,345	2,843,203
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
Preferred stock
Not subject to mandatory redemption, $100 par value, authorized 1,491,900 shares, issued zero and 10,288 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	0	1,029
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 60,702,342 and 60,539,624 shares and outstanding 60,291,939 and 60,526,126 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	60,702	60,540
Premium on common stock	409,904	405,313
Retained earnings	990,605	863,237
Treasury stock, at cost, 410,403 and 13,498 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	(13,215)	(274)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,139)	(11,638)	(11,291)
Total common shareholders' equity	1,419,857	1,317,178	1,115,043	1,059,836
Total shareholders' equity	1,419,857	1,318,207
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,050,202	4,161,410
Condensed Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, authorized (in shares)	1,491,900	1,491,900
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, issued (in shares)	0	10,288
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	60,702,342	60,539,624
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	60,291,939	60,526,126
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	410,403	13,498
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	22,642	5,320	7,080	5,941
Accounts receivable - affiliate	13,386	8,189
Other accounts receivable	1	1,202
Taxes receivable	8,431	11,565
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	7,153	0
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	30,639	29,738
Total current assets	82,252	56,014
Equity investment in investees	1,392,693	1,475,118
Deferred charges	39,089	23,351
Total assets	1,514,034	1,554,483
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	150,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	13,739	16,453
Other current liabilities	8,903	10,281
Total current liabilities	22,642	176,734
Deferred credits	61,535	44,542
Long-term debt	10,000	15,000
Total liabilities	94,177	236,276
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
Preferred stock
Not subject to mandatory redemption, $100 par value, authorized 1,491,900 shares, issued zero and 10,288 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	0	1,029
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 60,702,342 and 60,539,624 shares and outstanding 60,291,939 and 60,526,126 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	60,702	60,540
Premium on common stock	409,904	405,313
Retained earnings	990,605	863,237
Treasury stock, at cost, 410,403 and 13,498 shares at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively	(13,215)	(274)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,139)	(11,638)
Total common shareholders' equity	1,419,857	1,317,178
Total shareholders' equity	1,419,857	1,318,207
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,514,034	$ 1,554,483
Condensed Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 100	$ 100
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, authorized (in shares)	1,491,900	1,491,900
Preferred stock, not subject to mandatory redemption, issued (in shares)	0	10,288
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	60,702,342	60,539,624
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	60,291,939	60,526,126
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	410,403	13,498