Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees (Details) (USD $)							3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States for Performance Obligations of Perryville [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Lignite Mining Agreement Guarantee [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Guarantee Issued to Cleco Power on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] APH [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Cajun [Member] APH [Member]
Disclosures about Guarantees [Abstract]
Liability recognized on the balance sheets	$ 26,156,000	$ 200,000		$ 3,800,000
Fair value of indemnification liability recorded							13,500,000			21,800,000
Term of indemnification obligation							3 years		3 years
Maximum residual value of indemnification obligation							100,000		200,000
Indemnification liability representing risk of payment							400,000		21,800,000
Income from contractual expiration of indemnification								400,000			7,200,000	900,000
Estimated maximum projected payment			298,800,000	72,500,000	30,000,000	10,000,000
Off-balance sheet commitments, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	5,225,000	42,400,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	4,725,000
1-3 YEARS	0
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	500,000
On-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	26,156,000	200,000		3,800,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	0
1-3 YEARS	22,150,000
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	4,006,000
Total off-balance sheet commitments and on-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
Total NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	31,381,000
Total LESS THAN ONE YEAR	4,725,000
Total 1-3 YEARS	22,150,000
Total 3-5 YEARS	0
Total MORE THAN 5 YEARS	$ 4,506,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage													100.00%
Ownership interest exchanged (in hundredths)														50.00%