Income Taxes, Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Effective Income Tax Rate [Line Items]
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	30.50%	34.20%	30.70%	32.90%
Cleco Power [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate [Line Items]
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	35.50%	30.80%	35.30%	31.50%