Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 195,848	$ 255,391	$ 106,307
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Amortization of postretirement benefit net loss (gain) (net of tax expense of $605 in 2011, and tax benefit of $20 in 2010 and $158 in 2009)	1,213	(31)	(160)
Postretirement benefit loss incurred during the year (net of tax benefit of $949 in 2011 and $2,553 in 2009, and tax expense of $131 in 2010)	(1,721)	(4,241)	(3,403)
Cash flow hedges:
Net derivatives (loss) gain (net of tax)	(15,788)	2,916	1,930
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	(9,873)	1,823	1,208
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(16,501)	(347)	(1,458)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	179,347	255,044	104,849
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of amortiztion of postretirement benefit net loss (gain)	605	(20)	(158)
Net tax (benefit) expense of postretirement loss incurred during the year	(949)	131	(2,553)
Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	(205)	315	175
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net (gain) loss	(129)	197	110
Other Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	0	694	0
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net (gain) loss		434
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	195,848	255,391	106,307
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Amortization of postretirement benefit net loss (gain) (net of tax expense of $605 in 2011, and tax benefit of $20 in 2010 and $158 in 2009)	1,213	(31)	(160)
Postretirement benefit loss incurred during the year (net of tax benefit of $949 in 2011 and $2,553 in 2009, and tax expense of $131 in 2010)	(1,721)	(4,241)	(3,403)
Cash flow hedges:
Net derivatives (loss) gain (net of tax)	(15,788)	2,916	1,930
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	(9,873)	1,823	1,208
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(16,501)	(347)	(1,458)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	179,347	255,044	104,849
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of amortiztion of postretirement benefit net loss (gain)	605	(20)	(158)
Net tax (benefit) expense of postretirement loss incurred during the year	(949)	131	(2,553)
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	(205)	315	175
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net (gain) loss	(129)	197	110
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member] | Other Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	0	694	0
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net (gain) loss		$ 434