Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 102,897,000	$ 142,498,000	$ 9,579,000
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,188,000)	(4,528,000)	4,598,000
Income tax expense reflected in equity income of subsidiaries, net of tax	$ 116,100,000	$ 147,000,000	$ 5,000,000