Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,693	$ 93,576
Restricted cash	8,091	8,761
Customer accounts receivable	36,614	37,813
Other accounts receivable	37,530	42,051
Taxes receivable	13,308	44,584
Unbilled revenue	35,833	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	50,336	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	55,202	53,714
Energy risk management assets, net	152	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	45,496	29,249
Accumulated deferred fuel	2,013	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	54,248	51,073
Prepayments	5,325	5,384
Regulatory assets- other	12,961	13,028
Other current assets	437	3,442
Total current assets	381,239	456,785
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,059,455	4,023,655
Accumulated depreciation	(1,273,802)	(1,230,783)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,785,653	2,792,872
Construction work in progress	149,739	101,027
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,935,392	2,893,899
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,587	4,770
Restricted cash, less current portion	27,544	27,067
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	216,814	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	259,241	269,444
Net investment in direct financial lease	13,551	13,633
Intangible asset	127,223	133,595
Other deferred charges	23,376	22,048
Total assets	4,003,508	4,050,202
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	88,540	24,258
Accounts payable	90,549	129,308
Customer deposits	44,690	43,091
Provision for rate refund	7,259	7,323
Interest accrued	14,524	22,642
Energy risk managment liability, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	4,866	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	25,995	33,019
Deferred compensation	9,254	8,302
Uncertain tax positions	11,000	27,239
Other current liabilities	14,902	17,154
Total current liabilities	311,579	321,002
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	705,970	649,926
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,842	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	136,825	133,274
Regulatory liabilities - other	123	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	25,738	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	1,942	23,494
Tax credit fund investment, net	74,263	61,507
Contingent sale obligations	10,350	29,357
Other deferred credits	29,175	35,114
Total deferred credits	991,228	972,287
Long-term debt, net	1,244,434	1,337,056
Total liabilities	2,547,241	2,630,345
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	60,949	60,702
Premium on common stock	413,848	409,904
Retained earnings	1,029,160	990,605
Treasury stock, at cost	(21,100)	(13,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(26,590)	(28,139)
Total shareholders' equity	1,456,267	1,419,857
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,003,508	4,050,202
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	10,236	67,458
Restricted cash	8,091	8,761
Customer accounts receivable	36,614	37,813
Accounts receivable - affiliate	4,051	2,405
Other accounts receivable	37,448	35,618
Taxes receivable	0	3,197
Unbilled revenue	35,833	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	50,336	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	52,567	51,132
Energy risk management assets, net	152	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	9,593	19,829
Accumulated deferred fuel	2,013	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,642	20,433
Prepayments	4,233	4,155
Regulatory assets- other	12,961	13,028
Other current assets	0	375
Total current assets	284,770	338,314
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,792,113	3,759,541
Accumulated depreciation	(1,192,655)	(1,153,004)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,599,458	2,606,537
Construction work in progress	148,185	97,595
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,747,643	2,704,132
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,587	4,770
Restricted cash, less current portion	27,448	26,970
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	216,814	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	259,241	269,444
Intangible asset	127,223	133,595
Other deferred charges	22,528	20,293
Total assets	3,704,786	3,726,471
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	88,540	24,258
Accounts payable	83,299	115,091
Accounts payable - affiliate	11,172	9,311
Customer deposits	44,690	43,091
Provision for rate refund	7,259	7,323
Taxes payable	14,797	0
Interest accrued	16,133	22,540
Energy risk managment liability, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	4,866	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	25,995	33,019
Uncertain tax positions	11,262	27,465
Other current liabilities	10,667	11,193
Total current liabilities	318,680	301,957
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	727,526	675,835
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,842	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	97,197	94,147
Regulatory liabilities - other	123	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	25,738	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	0	19,906
Other deferred credits	28,203	37,093
Total deferred credits	885,629	866,596
Member's equity	1,256,043	1,230,862
Long-term debt, net	1,244,434	1,327,056
Total capitalization	2,500,477	2,557,918
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,704,786	$ 3,726,471