Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Summary of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	$ 216,814,000	$ 214,421,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets, net	464,911,000	458,707,000
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	216,814,000	214,421,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Mining costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	17,843,000	19,117,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Interest costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,484,000	6,667,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Asset removal costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	834,000	829,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Postretirement plan costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	128,418,000	132,556,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Tree trimming costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,014,000	8,371,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Training costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,410,000	7,486,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Storm surcredits, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,595,000	9,254,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Construction carrying costs - asset [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,828,000	10,883,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Lignite mining agreement contingency [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,781,000	3,781,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Power Purchase Agreement Capacity Costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	1,924,000	0
Cleco Power [Member] | AFUDC equity gross-up [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	73,896,000	74,346,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Rate case costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	849,000	1,117,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Acadia Unit 1 acquisition costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	2,918,000	2,971,000
Cleco Power [Member] | IRP/RFP costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	273,000	508,000
Cleco Power [Member] | AMI pilot costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	87,000	153,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Financing costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,889,000	4,433,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Biomass costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	159,000	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Total regulatory assets - other [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	272,202,000	282,472,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Construction carrying costs - liability [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	(26,118,000)	(40,322,000)
Amount of construction carrying costs returned to customers	140,300,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	$ 2,013,000	$ 2,136,000