Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 282,894	$ 324,532	$ 720,776	$ 823,484
Tolling operations	0	9,133	0	16,137
Other operations	15,408	16,064	38,464	41,775
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	202
Gross operating revenue	298,302	349,729	759,240	881,598
Electric customer credits	(930)	1,852	1,025	(3,405)
Operating revenue, net	297,372	351,581	760,265	878,193
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	79,701	122,774	207,764	298,009
Power purchased for utility customers	19,364	25,473	44,069	60,590
Other operations	30,517	32,138	86,901	90,281
Maintenance	20,059	14,587	61,478	59,666
Depreciation	34,931	31,237	99,028	91,749
Taxes other than income taxes	9,455	9,845	29,198	28,770
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(2)	27	(57)	(468)
Total operating expenses	194,025	236,081	528,381	628,597
Operating income	103,347	115,500	231,884	249,596
Interest income	132	509	163	794
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,882	902	4,298	3,757
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax	0	(1)	1	62,051
Other income	1,834	2,128	24,223	3,330
Other expense	(1,232)	(2,680)	(2,718)	(2,861)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net	22,610	26,105	64,671	79,368
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(644)	(326)	(1,466)	(1,357)
Total interest charges	21,966	25,779	63,205	78,011
Income before income taxes	83,997	90,579	194,646	238,656
Federal and state income tax expense	20,179	24,737	54,110	73,451
Net income	63,818	65,842	140,536	165,205
Preferred dividends requirements			0	26
Preferred stock redemption costs			0	112
Net income applicable to common stock	63,818	65,842	140,536	165,067
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,346,476	60,467,595	60,375,538	60,549,860
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,599,203	60,873,311	60,626,471	60,830,251
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 1.09	$ 2.33	$ 2.73
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 1.08	$ 2.32	$ 2.71
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3375	$ 0.28	$ 0.9625	$ 0.81
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	282,894	324,532	720,776	823,484
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	14,905	15,565	36,967	40,261
Affiliate revenue	343	347	1,030	1,041
Gross operating revenue	298,142	340,444	758,773	864,786
Electric customer credits	(930)	1,852	1,025	(3,405)
Operating revenue, net	297,212	342,296	759,798	861,381
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	79,701	122,774	207,459	298,009
Power purchased for utility customers	33,254	25,473	65,493	60,590
Other operations	29,063	30,451	82,647	85,162
Maintenance	16,095	15,768	51,739	53,962
Depreciation	33,199	29,539	93,847	86,650
Taxes other than income taxes	8,390	8,802	26,004	25,585
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	0	(6)	(1)	(7)
Total operating expenses	199,702	232,801	527,188	609,951
Operating income	97,510	109,495	232,610	251,430
Interest income	129	276	153	557
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,882	902	4,298	3,757
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax		0	0	0
Other income	1,188	1,323	3,511	2,168
Other expense	(1,224)	(1,201)	(2,698)	(2,391)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net	22,606	25,632	62,719	75,386
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(644)	(326)	(1,466)	(1,357)
Total interest charges	21,962	25,306	61,253	74,029
Income before income taxes	77,523	85,489	176,621	181,492
Federal and state income tax expense	19,740	31,656	54,748	61,935
Net income	$ 57,783	$ 53,833	$ 121,873	$ 119,557