Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities
Net income	$ 195,848	$ 255,391	$ 106,307
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	160,765	168,363	121,436
Gain on forgiveness of debt	0	(129,870)	0
Return on equity investment in investees	58,665	0	750
(Income) loss from equity investments	(62,050)	(38,849)	17,423
Unearned compensation expense	7,416	5,587	6,087
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(4,947)	(12,413)	(73,269)
Net deferred income taxes	23,618	54,873	(5,983)
Deferred fuel costs	653	21,086	7,223
Cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	1,687	(2,759)	(5,180)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(15,798)	(16,156)	8,310
Accounts and notes receivable, affiliate	1,161	2,109	(8,701)
Unbilled revenue	14,520	(22,675)	(2,262)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	35,442	(7,465)	(26,680)
Prepayments	1,520	(2,316)	1,575
Accounts payable	(1,137)	8,167	18,593
Accounts and notes payable, affiliate	(552)	(2,215)	(22,796)
Customer deposits	12,693	12,313	12,906
Long-term receivable	0	27,976	0
Postretirement benefit obligations	(55,529)	2,975	(11,173)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(43,131)	(88,333)	32,922
Contingent sale obligations	10,900	4,714	0
Other deferred accounts	(1,084)	1,813	(46,051)
Retainage payable	(2,481)	(27)	(13,011)
Taxes accrued	5,171	(34,266)	23,612
Interest accrued	(38,103)	2,466	(4,138)
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	4,646	7,885	4,406
Other operating	(1,873)	(3,201)	(854)
Net cash provided by operating activities	308,020	215,173	141,452
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(195,882)	(305,157)	(256,558)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	4,947	12,413	73,269
Cash from reconsolidation of VIEs	3,879	812	0
Return of equity investment in investees	89,654	0	850
Equity investment in investees	(1,460)	(8,700)	(29,809)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	33,430	0	0
Contributions to tax credit fund	(43,921)	(35,871)	(15,730)
Repayment of company-owned life insurance loan	0	(14,355)	0
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,220	45,535	46,531
Other investing	2,458	(1,582)	(2,002)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(101,675)	(306,905)	(183,449)
Financing activities
Issuance of short-term debt	0	150,000	0
Retirement of short-term debt	(150,000)	0	0
Draws on credit facility	95,000	20,000	93,000
Payments on credit facility	(100,000)	(100,000)	(28,000)
Issuance of long-term debt	100,000	247,245	190,369
Retirement of long-term debt	(12,269)	(120,867)	(114,846)
Repurchase of long-term debt	(132,000)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	(13,009)	0	0
Redemption of preferred stock	(1,039)	0	0
Settlement of treasury rate lock	(18,636)	5,675	4,696
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(26)	(46)	(46)
Dividends paid on common stock	(68,023)	(58,988)	(54,221)
Other financing	(3,895)	(5,352)	(1,245)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(303,897)	137,667	89,707
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(97,552)	45,935	47,710
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	191,128	145,193	97,483
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	93,576	191,128	145,193
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	87,359	90,773	84,629
Interest paid on treasury rate lock settlement	8,128	0	0
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	46,636	75,498	(30,309)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	17,525	6,032	11,396
Issuance of treasury stock - LTICP	68	93	117
Issuance of common stock - LTICP/ESPP	328	299	290
Incurrence of capital lease obligation - barges	0	0	22,050
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	4,586	152,067	0
Non-cash return of investment	0	152,067	0
Non-cash contribution to subsidiary, net of tax	0	225,732	0
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	142,835	147,405	111,166
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	127,109	119,940	88,843
(Income) loss from equity investments	0	0	0
Unearned compensation expense	1,796	1,846	1,855
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(4,947)	(12,413)	(73,269)
Net deferred income taxes	45,608	34,555	3,230
Deferred fuel costs	653	21,086	7,223
Cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	(383)	(345)	(454)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(14,858)	(16,261)	9,646
Accounts and notes receivable, affiliate	464	349	(656)
Unbilled revenue	14,520	(22,675)	(2,262)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	35,673	(7,202)	(26,680)
Prepayments	1,294	(2,016)	1,386
Accounts payable	(2,017)	8,934	18,254
Accounts and notes payable, affiliate	600	(18,598)	17,855
Customer deposits	12,693	12,313	12,906
Postretirement benefit obligations	(57,531)	647	(13,469)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(43,131)	(88,333)	32,922
Other deferred accounts	(7,788)	(8,082)	(37,021)
Retainage payable	(2,481)	(27)	(13,011)
Taxes accrued	926	(7,561)	9,430
Interest accrued	(5,609)	1,594	(4,140)
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	4,646	7,885	4,406
Other operating	(355)	(2,282)	(101)
Net cash provided by operating activities	249,717	170,759	148,059
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(182,574)	(149,211)	(255,585)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	4,947	12,413	73,269
Equity investment in investees	(1,460)	(200)	(12,873)
Repayment of company-owned life insurance loan	0	(14,355)	0
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,220	15,404	46,531
Other investing	3,674	1,277	327
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(170,193)	(134,672)	(148,331)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	60,000	0	45,000
Payments on credit facility	(60,000)	0	(45,000)
Issuance of long-term debt	100,000	247,245	190,369
Retirement of long-term debt	(12,269)	(85,704)	(114,846)
Repurchase of long-term debt	(132,000)	0	0
Settlement of treasury rate lock	(18,636)	5,675	4,696
Distribution to parent	(130,000)	(150,000)	(30,000)
Other financing	(4,073)	(6,504)	(3,376)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(196,978)	10,712	46,843
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(117,454)	46,799	46,571
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	184,912	138,113	91,542
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	67,458	184,912	138,113
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	85,607	79,044	81,508
Interest paid on treasury rate lock settlement	8,128	0	0
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	2,233	(5,425)	4,444
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	21,007	5,697	11,335
Incurrence of capital lease obligation - barges	0	0	22,050
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	4,586	304,134	0
Non-cash assumption of deferred tax liability	$ 0	$ 78,402	$ 0