Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 93,576	$ 191,128
Restricted cash	8,761	14,959
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,128 in 2011 and $1,046 in 2010)	37,813	38,820
Accounts receivable - affiliate	0	831
Other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	42,051	52,546
Taxes receivable	44,584	50,104
Unbilled revenue	30,129	44,649
Fuel inventory, at average cost	41,845	82,737
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	53,714	48,265
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	29,249	4,106
Accumulated deferred fuel	2,136	10,348
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	51,073	49,789
Prepayments	5,384	6,399
Regulatory assets- other	13,028	13,508
Other current assets	3,442	661
Total current assets	456,785	608,850
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,023,655	3,810,896
Accumulated depreciation	(1,230,783)	(1,162,456)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,792,872	2,648,440
Construction work in progress	101,027	135,785
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,893,899	2,784,225
Equity investment in investees	14,540	86,732
Prepayments	4,770	5,274
Restricted cash, less current portion	27,067	26,089
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	214,421	203,696
Regulatory assets - other	269,444	266,431
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,633	13,817
Intangible asset	133,595	145,374
Other deferred charges	22,048	20,922
Total assets	4,050,202	4,161,410
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	150,000
Long-term debt due within one year	24,258	12,269
Accounts payable	125,721	123,042
Retainage	3,587	2,726
Accounts payable - affiliate	0	155
Customer deposits	43,091	38,934
Provision for rate refund	7,323	9,598
Interest accrued	22,642	34,462
Energy risk management liability	5,336	9,027
Interest rate risk management liability	3,330	0
Regulatory liabilities - other	33,019	43,562
Deferred compensation	8,302	7,751
Uncertain tax positions	27,239	31,853
Other current liabilities	17,154	14,302
Total current liabilities	321,002	477,681
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	649,926	553,211
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	7,432	8,669
Postretirement benefit obligations	133,274	166,387
Regulatory liabilities - other	7,303	44,313
Restricted storm reserve	24,880	25,993
Uncertain tax positions	23,494	60,395
Tax credit fund investment, net	61,507	44,514
Contingent sale obligations	29,357	4,714
Other deferred credits	35,114	57,617
Total deferred credits	972,287	965,813
Long-term debt, net	1,337,056	1,399,709
Total liabilities	2,630,345	2,843,203
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
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	4,050,202	4,161,410
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	67,458	184,912
Restricted cash	8,761	14,959
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,128 in 2011 and $1,046 in 2010)	37,813	38,820
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,405	2,738
Other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	35,618	47,992
Taxes receivable	3,197	4,123
Unbilled revenue	30,129	44,649
Fuel inventory, at average cost	41,845	82,737
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	51,132	45,913
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	19,829	2,811
Accumulated deferred fuel	2,136	10,348
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,433	20,051
Prepayments	4,155	4,944
Regulatory assets- other	13,028	13,508
Other current assets	375	412
Total current assets	338,314	518,917
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,759,541	3,552,779
Accumulated depreciation	(1,153,004)	(1,085,945)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,606,537	2,466,834
Construction work in progress	97,595	130,396
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,704,132	2,597,230
Equity investment in investees	14,532	13,073
Prepayments	4,770	5,274
Restricted cash, less current portion	26,970	25,992
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	214,421	203,696
Regulatory assets - other	269,444	266,431
Intangible asset	133,595	145,374
Other deferred charges	20,293	19,218
Total assets	3,726,471	3,795,205
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	24,258	12,269
Accounts payable	111,504	112,487
Retainage	3,587	2,726
Accounts payable - affiliate	9,311	7,945
Customer deposits	43,091	38,934
Provision for rate refund	7,323	9,598
Interest accrued	22,540	13,450
Energy risk management liability	5,336	9,027
Interest rate risk management liability	3,330	0
Regulatory liabilities - other	33,019	43,562
Uncertain tax positions	27,465	0
Other current liabilities	11,193	9,862
Total current liabilities	301,957	259,860
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	675,835	601,574
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	7,432	8,669
Postretirement benefit obligations	94,147	130,757
Regulatory liabilities - other	7,303	44,313
Restricted storm reserve	24,880	25,993
Uncertain tax positions	19,906	54,835
Other deferred credits	37,093	50,572
Total deferred credits	866,596	916,713
Member's equity	1,230,862	1,233,923
Long-term debt, net	1,327,056	1,384,709
Total capitalization	2,557,918	2,618,632
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Common shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(20,630)	(4,734)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,726,471	$ 3,795,205