Electric Customer Credits	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Regulated Operations [Abstract]
Electric Customer Credits	Electric Customer Credits Beginning in 2010, the amount of Cleco Power’s yearly retail earnings is subject to the terms of a FRP established by the LPSC. The new rates and the FRP became effective upon commencement of commercial operations at Madison Unit 3 on February 12, 2010. The 2010 FRP establishes a target return on equity and requires all or a portion of regulated earnings for each yearly review period above the targeted regulatory rate of return on equity to be credited to Cleco Power’s retail customers. The 2010 FRP allows Cleco Power the opportunity to earn a target return on equity of 10.7%, including returning to retail customers 60.0% of retail earnings between 11.3% and 12.3% and all retail earnings over 12.3%. The amount of credits due customers, if any, is determined by Cleco Power and the LPSC annually. The 2010 FRP established that Cleco Power file monitoring reports for both the 12 months ended June 30, 2010, and September 30, 2010, on or before October 31, 2010, and January 31, 2011, respectively. Beginning in 2011, Cleco Power began filing annual monitoring reports no later than October 31 for the 12-month period ending June 30. On October 29, 2010, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended June 30, 2010, which indicated that no refund was due for this period. On January 28, 2011, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended September 30, 2010, which indicated that $9.0 million was due to be returned to customers. On June 23, 2011, the LPSC Staff completed its review of this report and determined that the results presented by Cleco Power in the September 30, 2010 filing were consistent with the terms of the 2010 FRP and that no changes were necessary. Cleco Power issued refunds for this filing on customers’ bills in the third quarter of 2011. On October 31, 2011, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended June 30, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, Cleco Power had accrued $5.1 million to be returned to customers based on the results for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2011. The ultimate amount of any customer refund is subject to LPSC approval. The accrual for estimated electric customer credits reflected on Cleco Corporation and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011, and 2010 was $7.3 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

Electric Customer Credits

Beginning in 2010, the amount of Cleco Power’s yearly retail earnings is subject to the terms of a FRP established by the LPSC. The new rates and the FRP became effective upon commencement of commercial operations at Madison Unit 3 on February 12, 2010. The 2010 FRP establishes a target return on equity and requires all or a portion of regulated earnings for each yearly review period above the targeted regulatory rate of return on equity to be credited to Cleco Power’s retail customers. The 2010 FRP allows Cleco Power the opportunity to earn a target return on equity of 10.7%, including returning to retail customers 60.0% of retail earnings between 11.3% and 12.3% and all retail earnings over 12.3%. The amount of credits due customers, if any, is determined by Cleco Power and the LPSC annually. The 2010 FRP established that Cleco Power file monitoring reports for both the 12 months ended June 30, 2010, and September 30, 2010, on or before October 31, 2010, and January 31, 2011, respectively. Beginning in 2011, Cleco Power began filing annual monitoring reports no later than October 31 for the 12-month period ending June 30.

On October 29, 2010, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended June 30, 2010, which indicated that no refund was due for this period. On January 28, 2011, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended September 30, 2010, which indicated that $9.0 million was due to be returned to customers. On June 23, 2011, the LPSC Staff completed its review of this report and determined that the results presented by Cleco Power in the September 30, 2010 filing were consistent with the terms of the 2010 FRP and that no changes were necessary. Cleco Power issued refunds for this filing on customers’ bills in the third quarter of 2011. On October 31, 2011, Cleco Power filed its report for the 12 months ended June 30, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, Cleco Power had accrued $5.1 million to be returned to customers based on the results for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2011. The ultimate amount of any customer refund is subject to LPSC approval. The accrual for estimated electric customer credits reflected on Cleco Corporation and Cleco Power’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011, and 2010 was $7.3 million and $9.6 million, respectively.