Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net tax expense (benefit) of amortization of postretirement benefit net (loss) gain	$ 239	$ 178	$ 670	$ 454
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	309	(11,529)	(282)	(11,529)
Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net gain (loss)	(7)	(34)	15	(103)
Cleco Power [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net tax expense (benefit) of amortization of postretirement benefit net (loss) gain	103	99	267	227
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	309	(11,529)	(282)	(11,529)
Cleco Power [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of net gain (loss)	(7)	(34)	15	(103)
Regulatory Asset [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset	0	0	982	0
Regulatory Asset [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset	$ 0	$ 0	$ 982	$ 0