Debt, Treasury Rate Lock (Details) (Cleco Power [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2011	Aug. 12, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Treasury Rate Locks [Member]
Treasury rate lock [Abstract]
Notional amount	$ 100,000,000	$ 150,000,000
Interest lock rate (in hundredths)	3.89%	3.77%
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
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
Swap [Member]
Treasury rate lock [Abstract]
Rate basis	30-year treasury note yield as of November 14, 2011
Fixed-rate forecasted debt issuance	$ 50,000,000
Reference rate as of contract date	3.05%