Fair Value Accounting, Effect of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Natural gas requirements hedged [Abstract]
Millions MMBtus hedged for natural gas fuel costs	2,200,000		9,400,000
Estimated natural gas requirements covered (in hundredths)	3.00%		11.00%
Estimated natural gas requirements period (in years)	2 years		2 years
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives	$ (18,119,000)		$ (37,485,000)		$ (94,414,000)
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] | Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives	(18,119,000)	[1]	(36,818,000)	[1]	(92,609,000)	[1]
Unrealized gains (losses)	(5,300,000)		(15,100,000)		(24,900,000)
Deferred gains (losses)	(1,200,000)		(1,600,000)		(2,600,000)
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Economic Hedges [Member] | Other Operations Revenue [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives	0		(667,000)	[2]	(1,805,000)	[2]
Mark-to-market gains (losses)			400,000		(200,000)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] | Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in OCI	(25,661,000)		4,739,000		3,138,000
Amount of (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)	334,000	[3]	(512,000)	[3]	(285,000)	[3]
Cleco Power [Member] | Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Cash flow hedge gain (loss) expected to be reclassed from accumulated OCI over the next 12 months	$ (400,000)

[1] 2) In accordance with the authoritative guidance for regulated operations, an additional $5.3 million of unrealized losses and $1.2 million of deferred losses associated with fuel cost hedges are reported in Accumulated Deferred Fuel on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2011, compared to $15.1 million of unrealized losses and $1.6 million of deferred losses as of December 31, 2010 and to $24.9 million of unrealized losses and $2.6 million of deferred losses associated with fuel costs hedges as of December 31, 2009. As gains and losses are realized in future periods, they will be recorded as Fuel Used for Electric Generation on the Income Statemen

[2] (1) For the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, Cleco recognized $0.4 million of mark-to-market gains and $0.2 million of mark-to market losses, respectively. related to economic hedges.

[3] The (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income is reflected in interest charges.