Fair Value Accounting, Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 93,576	$ 191,128
Restricted cash	35,828	41,048
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,354,567	1,403,835
Preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption fair value disclosure	0	1,029
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	93,576	191,128
Restricted cash	35,828	41,048
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,542,867	1,462,063
Preferred stock not subject to mandatory redemption fair value disclosure	0	844
Cleco Power [Member] \| Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	67,458	184,912
Restricted cash	35,731	40,951
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,344,567	1,388,835
Cleco Power [Member] \| Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	67,458	184,912
Restricted cash	35,731	40,951
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	$ 1,532,867	$ 1,447,063

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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