Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net income	$ 30,031	$ 29,016
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	38,445	47,662
Income from equity investments	(1)	(611)
Unearned compensation expense	1,329	2,487
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(1,017)	(1,978)
Net deferred income taxes	889	(13,144)
Deferred fuel costs	7,433	3,030
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(1,806)	(1,141)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	6,253	(13,958)
Unbilled revenue	4,302	12,269
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(4,187)	23,920
Prepayments	1,820	2,520
Accounts payable	(53,174)	(35,617)
Customer deposits	2,952	3,205
Postretirement benefit obligations	2,831	(58,370)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(4,436)	(12,266)
Other deferred accounts	(5,835)	2,313
Taxes accrued	12,112	2,958
Interest accrued	4,511	12,555
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	(174)	749
Other operating	(905)	(3,297)
Net cash provided by operating activities	41,373	2,302
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(39,380)	(21,883)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,017	1,978
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	10,215	0
Contributions to tax credit fund	(18,540)	(9,239)
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,248	9,391
Other investing	615	216
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(40,825)	(19,537)
Financing activities
Payments on credit facility	(10,000)	(15,000)
Retirement of long-term debt	(17,847)	(6,283)
Dividends paid on preferred stock	0	(12)
Dividends paid on common stock	(18,905)	(15,171)
Other financing	(123)	(236)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(46,875)	(36,702)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(46,327)	(53,937)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	93,576	191,128
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	47,249	137,191
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	8,251	9,619
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	6	11,068
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	6,974	23,245
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	619	124
Issuance of treasury stock - LTICP	16	23
Issuance of common stock - LTICP/ESPP	86	77
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	26,805	30,030
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	33,049	31,082
Income from equity investments	0	0
Unearned compensation expense	297	753
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(1,017)	(1,978)
Net deferred income taxes	14,052	4,326
Deferred fuel costs	7,433	3,030
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(107)	11
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	5,767	(10,720)
Accounts and notes receivable, affiliate	286	(725)
Unbilled revenue	4,302	12,269
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(4,105)	24,038
Prepayments	1,085	1,927
Accounts payable	(43,623)	(34,966)
Accounts and notes payable, affiliate	11,055	9,032
Customer deposits	2,952	3,205
Postretirement benefit obligations	1,673	(58,893)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(4,436)	(12,266)
Other deferred accounts	(8,747)	1,379
Taxes accrued	(2,171)	(9,080)
Interest accrued	5,330	12,833
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	(174)	749
Other operating	(2,193)	(737)
Net cash provided by operating activities	47,513	5,299
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(38,507)	(20,720)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,017	1,978
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,248	9,391
Other investing	1,483	396
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(30,759)	(8,955)
Financing activities
Retirement of long-term debt	(17,847)	(6,283)
Distribution to parent	(30,000)	(50,000)
Other financing	(480)	(533)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(48,327)	(56,816)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(31,573)	(60,472)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,458	184,912
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	35,885	124,440
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	8,180	8,481
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	0	(229)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	11,262	23,246
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	$ 619	$ 124