Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 47,249	$ 93,576
Restricted cash	3,320	8,761
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $903 in 2012 and $1,128 in 2011)	30,177	37,813
Other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	40,542	42,051
Taxes receivable	31,880	44,584
Unbilled revenue	25,827	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	45,354	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	54,393	53,714
Interest rate risk management asset	1,326	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	34,487	29,249
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	53,743	51,073
Prepayments	3,680	5,384
Regulatory assets- other	13,089	13,028
Other current assets	1,524	3,442
Total current assets	386,591	456,785
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,035,086	4,023,655
Accumulated depreciation	(1,252,575)	(1,230,783)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,782,511	2,792,872
Construction work in progress	123,451	101,027
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,905,962	2,893,899
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,654	4,770
Restricted cash, less current portion	27,260	27,067
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	215,793	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	264,030	269,444
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,592	13,633
Intangible asset	130,582	133,595
Other deferred charges	21,692	22,048
Total assets	3,984,697	4,050,202
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	13,540	24,258
Accounts payable	71,807	125,721
Customer deposits	43,962	43,091
Provision for rate refund	6,977	7,323
Interest accrued	27,013	22,642
Accumulated deferred fuel	6,198	0
Energy risk managment liability, net	3,096	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	0	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	28,473	33,019
Deferred compensation	9,591	8,302
Uncertain tax positions	15,550	27,239
Other current liabilities	16,822	20,741
Total current liabilities	243,029	321,002
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	670,252	649,926
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	7,137	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	135,645	133,274
Regulatory liabilities - other	3,079	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	25,454	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	25,932	23,494
Tax credit fund investment, net	63,945	61,507
Contingent sale obligations	22,150	29,357
Other deferred credits	31,485	35,114
Total deferred credits	985,079	972,287
Long-term debt, net	1,319,631	1,337,056
Total liabilities	2,547,739	2,630,345
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock, $1 par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 60,872,583 and 60,702,342 shares and outstanding 60,462,665 and 60,291,939 shares at March 31, 2012, and 2011, respectively	60,873	60,702
Premium on common stock	411,044	409,904
Retained earnings	1,001,582	990,605
Treasury stock, at cost, 409,918 and 410,403 shares at March 31, 2012, and 2011, respectively	(13,200)	(13,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(23,341)	(28,139)
Total shareholders' equity	1,436,958	1,419,857
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,984,697	4,050,202
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	35,885	67,458
Restricted cash	3,320	8,761
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $903 in 2012 and $1,128 in 2011)	30,177	37,813
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,325	2,405
Other accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	35,118	35,618
Taxes receivable	5,346	3,197
Unbilled revenue	25,827	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	45,354	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	51,727	51,132
Interest rate risk management asset	1,326	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	19,152	19,829
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,540	20,433
Prepayments	3,185	4,155
Regulatory assets- other	13,089	13,028
Other current assets	593	375
Total current assets	292,964	338,314
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,768,322	3,759,541
Accumulated depreciation	(1,173,098)	(1,153,004)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,595,224	2,606,537
Construction work in progress	122,351	97,595
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,717,575	2,704,132
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,654	4,770
Restricted cash, less current portion	27,164	26,970
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	215,793	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	264,030	269,444
Net investment in direct financing lease	130,582	133,595
Intangible asset	20,021	20,293
Total assets	3,687,315	3,726,471
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	13,540	24,258
Accounts payable	68,164	111,504
Accounts payable - affiliate	20,599	9,311
Customer deposits	43,962	43,091
Provision for rate refund	6,977	7,323
Interest accrued	26,255	22,540
Accumulated deferred fuel	6,198	0
Energy risk managment liability, net	3,096	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	0	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	28,473	33,019
Uncertain tax positions	15,812	27,465
Other current liabilities	13,327	14,780
Total current liabilities	246,403	301,957
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	703,297	675,835
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	7,137	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	95,792	94,147
Regulatory liabilities - other	3,079	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	25,454	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	22,331	19,906
Other deferred credits	31,885	37,093
Total deferred credits	888,975	866,596
Member's equity	1,232,306	1,230,862
Long-term debt, net	1,319,631	1,327,056
Total capitalization	2,551,937	2,557,918
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Common shareholders' equity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,687,315	$ 3,726,471