The change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The LPSC authorization of funding for a reserve of future storm costs.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of restricted cash and cash equivalents transfered to an outside investment manager.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months for securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

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-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 03-1

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph a(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the second fiscal year through the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 320

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

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- Definition

This item represents the gross unrealized gains for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 22

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This item represents the gross unrealized losses for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

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Fair Value Accounting, Restricted Investments (Details) (USD $)										3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 Municipal Bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Jul. 02, 2012 Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2007 Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
LPSC authorized storm reserve funding					$ 50,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Gain (Loss), Net of tax										100,000	100,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	9,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	3,381,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Next Twelve Months, Fair Value		1,022,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Fair Value		3,448,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure		4,470,000				4,470,000	0	4,470,000	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis		4,477,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains			2,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses			9,000
Amount of restricted cash and cash equivalents transfered to an investment manager				$ 13,000,000