Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 228,293	$ 260,485	$ 437,883	$ 498,953
Tolling operations	0	4,222	0	7,003
Other operations	12,111	12,983	23,056	25,711
Affiliate revenue	0	55	0	202
Gross operating revenue	240,404	277,745	460,939	531,869
Electric customer credits	(281)	(4,822)	1,955	(5,256)
Operating revenue, net	240,123	272,923	462,894	526,613
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	54,999	78,268	128,063	175,236
Power purchased for utility customers	16,068	26,068	24,705	35,116
Other operations	28,688	31,080	56,385	58,146
Maintenance	24,184	28,269	41,419	45,078
Depreciation	32,250	30,699	64,097	60,512
Taxes other than income taxes	9,713	9,464	19,743	18,924
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(22)	(506)	(55)	(496)
Total operating expenses	165,880	203,342	334,357	392,516
Operating income	74,243	69,581	128,537	134,097
Interest income	(3)	170	31	285
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,399	876	2,416	2,854
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax	0	61,440	1	62,052
Other income	13,014	1,050	22,389	2,254
Other expense	(831)	(630)	(1,486)	(1,233)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net	21,094	25,935	42,062	53,263
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(478)	(316)	(822)	(1,031)
Total interest charges	20,616	25,619	41,240	52,232
Income before income taxes	67,206	106,868	110,648	148,077
Federal and state income tax expense	20,520	36,520	33,930	48,714
Net income	46,686	70,348	76,718	99,363
Preferred dividends requirements	0	15	0	26
Preferred stock redemption costs	0	112	0	112
Net income applicable to common stock	46,686	70,221	76,718	99,225
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,421,028	60,655,538	60,387,388	60,613,371
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,660,702	61,023,439	60,625,377	60,797,545
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 1.16	$ 1.27	$ 1.64
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 1.15	$ 1.27	$ 1.63
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3125	$ 0.28	$ 0.625	$ 0.53
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	228,293	260,485	437,883	498,953
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	11,613	12,453	22,062	24,696
Affiliate revenue	342	348	687	694
Gross operating revenue	240,248	273,286	460,632	524,343
Electric customer credits	(281)	(4,822)	1,955	(5,256)
Operating revenue, net	239,967	268,464	462,587	519,087
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	54,695	78,268	127,759	175,236
Power purchased for utility customers	22,367	26,068	32,239	35,116
Other operations	27,243	29,321	53,585	54,711
Maintenance	19,630	22,581	35,644	38,194
Depreciation	30,559	28,996	60,648	57,111
Taxes other than income taxes	8,682	8,396	17,614	16,783
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Total operating expenses	163,175	193,630	327,488	377,150
Operating income	76,792	74,834	135,099	141,937
Interest income	(6)	168	23	281
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,399	876	2,416	2,854
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax		0	0	0
Other income	1,228	644	2,323	844
Other expense	(823)	(627)	(1,473)	(1,190)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net	21,283	24,638	40,113	49,754
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(478)	(316)	(822)	(1,031)
Total interest charges	20,805	24,322	39,291	48,723
Income before income taxes	57,785	51,573	99,097	96,003
Federal and state income tax expense	20,501	15,879	35,008	30,279
Net income	$ 37,284	$ 35,694	$ 64,089	$ 65,724