Income Taxes, Current and Deferred Income Tax Expense (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Components of Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Change in total tax benefit from items charged directly to shareholder's equity	$ 12,900,000
Current and deferred income tax expense [Abstract]
Current federal income tax expense	77,659,000	75,337,000	16,080,000
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)	26,577,000	56,047,000	(9,880,000)
Amortization of accumulated deferred investment tax credits	(1,238,000)	(1,285,000)	(1,332,000)
Total federal income tax expense	102,998,000	130,099,000	4,868,000
Current state income tax expense	2,857,000	13,572,000	814,000
Deferred state income tax (benefit) expense	(2,958,000)	(1,173,000)	3,897,000
Total state income tax (benefit) expense	(101,000)	12,399,000	4,711,000
Total taxes	102,897,000	142,498,000	9,579,000
Items charged or credited directly to shareholders' equity
Federal deferred	(8,908,000)	2,210,000	(1,200,000)
State deferred	(1,439,000)	357,000	(194,000)
Total tax benefit from items charged directly to shareholders' equity	(10,347,000)	2,567,000	(1,394,000)
Total federal and state income tax expense	92,550,000	145,065,000	8,185,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Change in total tax benefit from items charged directly to shareholder's equity	12,900,000
Current and deferred income tax expense [Abstract]
Current federal income tax expense	23,347,000	35,132,000	11,920,000
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)	47,763,000	40,237,000	912,000
Amortization of accumulated deferred investment tax credits	(1,238,000)	(1,285,000)	(1,332,000)
Total federal income tax expense	69,872,000	74,084,000	11,500,000
Current state income tax expense	1,691,000	6,704,000	1,480,000
Deferred state income tax (benefit) expense	(2,154,000)	(5,681,000)	2,317,000
Total state income tax (benefit) expense	(463,000)	1,023,000	3,797,000
Total taxes	69,409,000	75,107,000	15,297,000
Items charged or credited directly to shareholders' equity
Federal deferred	(8,580,000)	2,532,000	(620,000)
State deferred	(1,386,000)	409,000	(100,000)
Total tax benefit from items charged directly to shareholders' equity	(9,966,000)	2,941,000	(720,000)
Total federal and state income tax expense	$ 59,443,000	$ 78,048,000	$ 14,577,000