Fair Value Accounting, Derivatives (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Cleco Power [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Cleco Power [Member] Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Nov. 14, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Treasury Rate Locks [Member]	Aug. 12, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Treasury Rate Locks [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Treasury Rate Locks [Member]	Nov. 14, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member]
Interest rate cash flow hedge [Abstract]
Fixed interest rate (in hundredths)					1.84%	3.89%	3.77%		3.05%
Net interest expense recognized on hedged item (in hundredths)		4.84%
Gain (loss) on discontinuation of interest rate cash flow hedge		$ (1,100,000)
Reclassification adjustments of interest rate cash flow hedge			700,000	300,000
Notional amount					50,000,000	100,000,000	150,000,000		50,000,000
Rate basis						30-year treasury note yield as of November 14, 2011, and two-thirds of the fair market value of the previous treasury rate lock	30-year treasury note yield as of August 12, 2011		spot 30-year all-in swap
Amount of original notional amount issuance delayed									50,000,000
Debt instrument amount											100,000,000	100,000,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	5.12%										5.12%	5.12%
Maturity date	Dec. 16, 2041										Dec. 16, 2041	Dec. 16, 2041
Cash flow hedges amount recorded in other comprehensive income								22,300,000
Derivative loss deferred as regulatory asset								4,400,000
Amortization period of amount recorded in other comprehensive income								30-year term
Amortization period of amount deferred as regulatory asset								30-year term
Unrealized mark-to-market loss in other comprehensive income										$ 3,300,000