Debt, Capital Lease Agreements (Details) (Barge lease obligations, ending December 31, 2013 [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011
Amounts payable under capital lease agreements [Abstract]
2012	$ 1,841
2013	2,017
2014	2,221
2015	2,446
2016	2,703
Thereafter	6,310
Cleco Power [Member]
Amounts payable under capital lease agreements [Abstract]
2012	1,841
2013	2,017
2014	2,221
2015	2,446
2016	2,703
Thereafter	$ 6,310

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, Current

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, in Five Years

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, in Four Years

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, In Three Years

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, In Two years

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments Due, Thereafter

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsPresentValueOfNetMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration