Fair Value Accounting, Derivatives (Details) (Cleco Power [Member], Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012
Cleco Power [Member] | Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Interest rate cash flow hedge [Abstract]
Notional amount	$ 50,000,000
Rate basis	spot 30-year all-in swap
Fixed iterest rate	3.05%
Amount of original notional amount issuance delayed	50,000,000
Unrealized mark-to-market loss in other comprehensive income		4,700,000
Interest rate risk management asset		$ 1,300,000