Fair Value Accounting, Effect of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) (USD $)			3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 MMBTU	Dec. 31, 2011 MMBTU	Mar. 31, 2012 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives			$ (3,484,000)	$ (3,794,000)	$ (3,484,000)	$ (3,794,000)
Unrealized gains (losses)					(3,300,000)		(5,300,000)
Deferred gains (losses)					(1,700,000)		(1,200,000)
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in OCI								4,657,000	0
Amount of (loss) gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)								1,000	89,000
Ineffectiveness related to regulatory asset								2,600,000
Cash flow hedge gain (loss) expected to be reclassed from accumulated OCI over the next 12 months								$ (400,000)
Natural gas requirements hedged [Abstract]
Millions MMBtus hedged for natural gas fuel costs	2,100,000	2,200,000
Estimated natural gas requirements covered (in hundredths)	3.00%	3.00%
Estimated natural gas requirements period (in years)										2 years	2 years