Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Apr. 29, 2011
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	$ 62,050,000		$ 38,849,000	$ (17,423,000)
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	14,540,000		86,732,000	251,617,000
Cajun [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Value of plant acquisition (proceeds)					298,800,000
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets			7,133,000
Property, plant and equipment, net			203,793,000
Total assets			210,926,000
Current liabilities			1,950,000
Other liabilities			9,429,000
Partner's capital			199,547,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital			210,926,000
Operating revenue	5,227,000	[1]	49,273,000
Operating expenses	5,914,000	[1]	57,496,000
Gain on sale of assets	71,422,000	[1]	81,845,000
Other income	929,000	[1]	4,074,000
Income (loss) before taxes	71,664,000	[1]	77,696,000
Equity method investment, income tax expense (benefit)	24,000,000	[1]	14,700,000
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	62,053,000		38,848,000	(17,243,000)
Evangeline [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Operating revenue				59,852,000
Operating expenses				27,721,000
Depreciation				5,535,000
Interest charges				28,675,000
Other expense				(17,000)
Income (loss) before taxes				(2,096,000)
Equity method investment, income tax expense (benefit)				(700,000)
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	0		0	(2,096,000)
Other subsidiaries 100% owned by Cleco Corporation [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Percentage of equity capitalization (in hundredths)	100.00%
Number of entities 100% owned by Cleco Corporation prospectively consolidated	2
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Operating revenue				1,959,000
Operating expenses				586,000
Other income				34,000
Interest income				501,000
Income (loss) before taxes				1,908,000
Interest related to amended tax returns included in interest income				500,000
Equity method investment, income tax expense (benefit)				700,000
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	0		0	1,908,000
Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Cleco Innovations LLC [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Equity investment in investees, description	less than $0.1 million
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	(3,000)		1,000	8,000
Oxbow [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%
Ownership percentage by other parties (in hundredths)	50.00%
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets	1,711,000		583,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,339,000		23,597,000
Other assets	4,128,000		2,141,000
Total assets	29,178,000		26,321,000
Current liabilities	40,000		175,000
Other liabilities	73,000		0
Partner's capital	29,065,000		26,146,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	29,178,000		26,321,000
Operating revenue	1,781,000		931,000	0
Operating expenses	1,781,000		931,000	0
Income (loss) before taxes	0		0	0
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873,000		12,873,000
Cash contributions	1,659,000		200,000
Total equity investment in investee	14,532,000		13,073,000
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Net assets/liabilities	29,065,000		26,146,000
Entity's 50% equity	14,532,000		13,073,000
Cleco's maximum exposure to loss	$ 14,532,000		$ 13,073,000

[1] The 2011 income statement includes only activity prior to the April 29, 2011, reconsolidation.