Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees (Details) (USD $)								3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States for Performance Obligations of Perryville [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Lignite Mining Agreement Guarantee [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Guarantee Issued to Cleco Power on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Feb. 23, 2010 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] APH [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Cajun [Member] APH [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member] Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]
Disclosures about Guarantees [Abstract]
Liability recognized on the balance sheets	$ 14,356,000		$ 200,000		$ 3,800,000
Term of indemnification obligation											3 years					3 years
Maximum residual value of indemnification obligation																200,000	200,000				100,000
Indemnification liability representing risk of payment	10,350,000	29,357,000									400,000		400,000		13,500,000	10,000,000	10,000,000	21,800,000
Income from contractual expiration of indemnification								100,000	0	900,000	0	100,000	7,200,000	1,000,000		11,800,000	11,800,000
Estimated maximum projected payment				298,800,000	72,500,000	30,000,000	10,000,000
Off-balance sheet commitments, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	4,225,000		42,400,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	3,725,000
1-3 YEARS	0
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	500,000
On-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	14,356,000		200,000		3,800,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	0
1-3 YEARS	10,350,000
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	4,006,000
Total off-balance sheet commitments and on-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
Total NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	18,581,000
Total LESS THAN ONE YEAR	3,725,000
Total 1-3 YEARS	10,350,000
Total 3-5 YEARS	0
Total MORE THAN 5 YEARS	$ 4,506,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage																			100.00%
Ownership interest exchanged (in hundredths)																				50.00%