Debt, Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended																12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 5.375%, due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 5.375%, due 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 5.375%, due 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 5.375%, due 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's pollution control revenue bonds, 5.875%, due 2029, callable after September 1, 2009 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's pollution control revenue bonds, 5.875%, due 2029, callable after September 1, 2009 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's pollution control revenue bonds, 5.875%, due 2029, callable after September 1, 2009 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's pollution control revenue bonds, 5.875%, due 2029, callable after September 1, 2009 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's pollution control revenue bonds, 5.875%, due 2029, callable after September 1, 2009 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Oct. 03, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 6.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on October 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's GO Zone bonds, 7.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on December 1, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's GO Zone bonds, 7.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on December 1, 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's GO Zone bonds, 7.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on December 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's GO Zone bonds, 7.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on December 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's GO Zone bonds, 7.00%, due 2038, mandatory tender on December 1, 2011 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Ritas Storm Recovery Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Ritas Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Bonds [Member] Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gross amount of long-term debt	$ 1,372,105,000	$ 1,423,035,000		$ 1,362,105,000	$ 1,408,035,000		$ 10,000,000	$ 15,000,000	$ 17,538,000	$ 19,200,000	$ 17,538,000	$ 19,200,000	$ 1,344,567,000	$ 1,388,835,000	$ 1,344,567,000	$ 1,388,835,000	$ 75,000,000	$ 75,000,000	$ 75,000,000	$ 75,000,000	$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 295,000,000	$ 295,000,000	$ 295,000,000	$ 295,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000	$ 100,000,000	$ 0	$ 100,000,000	$ 100,000,000	$ 0	$ 61,260,000	$ 61,260,000	$ 61,260,000	$ 61,260,000	$ 61,260,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 0	$ 32,000,000		$ 0		$ 32,000,000	$ 0	$ 100,000,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 100,000,000			$ 75,707,000	$ 87,975,000	$ 75,707,000	$ 87,975,000	$ 67,600,000	$ 67,600,000	$ 67,600,000	$ 67,600,000
Less: long-term due within one year	24,258,000	12,269,000		24,258,000	12,269,000																																					11,200,000		11,200,000	11,200,000																					13,100,000	13,100,000
Less: lease obligations due within one year	1,841,000	1,662,000		1,841,000	1,662,000
Less: unamortized premium and discount, net	(8,950,000)	(9,395,000)		(8,950,000)	(9,395,000)
Long-term debt, net	1,337,056,000	1,399,709,000		1,327,056,000	1,384,709,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)																	5.375%		5.375%		4.95%		4.95%		6.65%		6.65%		6.50%		6.50%		6.00%		6.00%		5.12%		5.12%	5.12%		5.875%		5.875%	5.875%		4.70%		4.70%		5.25%		5.25%		6.00%			6.00%			7.00%		7.00%	7.00%				4.41%		4.41%		5.61%		5.61%
Maturity date																	May 01, 2013		May 01, 2013		Jul. 15, 2015		Jul. 15, 2015		Jun. 15, 2018		Jun. 15, 2018		Dec. 01, 2035		Dec. 01, 2035		Dec. 01, 2040		Dec. 01, 2040		Dec. 16, 2041		Dec. 16, 2041	Dec. 16, 2041		Sep. 01, 2029			Sep. 01, 2029		Nov. 01, 2036		Nov. 01, 2036		Nov. 01, 2037		Nov. 01, 2037		Oct. 01, 2038			Oct. 01, 2038			Dec. 01, 2038			Dec. 01, 2038				Mar. 01, 2020		Mar. 01, 2020		Mar. 01, 2023		Mar. 01, 2023		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013		Aug. 19, 2011
Earliest call date																																										Sep. 01, 2009			Sep. 01, 2009		Nov. 01, 2016		Nov. 01, 2016
Mandatory tender date																																																			Mar. 01, 2013		Mar. 01, 2013
Reacquired date																																																							Oct. 01, 2011			Oct. 01, 2011			Dec. 01, 2011			Dec. 01, 2011
Initial termination date of barge lease agreement																																																																												12/31/2013	12/13/2013
Long-term outstanding	1,361,314,000	1,411,978,000		1,351,314,000	1,396,978,000
Repayments of long-term debt	12,269,000	120,867,000	114,846,000	12,269,000	85,704,000	114,846,000																																																			32,000,000							100,000,000
Interest Paid																																												300,000													1,000,000						3,500,000															600,000
Interest rate initial percentage																																																											0.16%				0.12%	0.12%
Amounts payable under long-term debt agreements [Abstract]
2012	24,258,000	12,269,000		24,258,000	12,269,000																																					11,200,000		11,200,000	11,200,000																					13,100,000	13,100,000
2013	88,969,000			88,969,000
2014	14,876,000			14,876,000
2015	65,824,000			65,824,000
2016	26,815,000			16,815,000
Thereafter	$ 1,133,825,000			$ 1,133,825,000