Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,364	$ 93,576
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,406	8,761
Customer accounts receivable	47,635	37,813
Other accounts receivable	36,334	42,051
Taxes receivable	8,353	44,584
Unbilled revenue	31,505	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,290	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	58,212	53,714
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	75,693	29,249
Accumulated deferred fuel	1,715	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	56,647	51,073
Prepayments	5,095	5,384
Regulatory assets- other	12,810	13,028
Other current assets	398	3,442
Total current assets	459,457	456,785
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,082,636	4,023,655
Accumulated depreciation	(1,291,862)	(1,230,783)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,790,774	2,792,872
Construction work in progress	183,529	101,027
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	2,974,303	2,893,899
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,139	4,770
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, less current portion	13,320	27,067
Restricted investments	4,470	0
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	219,433	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	258,344	269,444
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,546	13,633
Intangible asset	123,608	133,595
Other deferred charges	21,732	22,048
Total assets	4,106,893	4,050,202
Liabilities
Long-term debt, net	1,237,184	1,337,056
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	90,937	24,258
Accounts payable	104,435	129,308
Customer deposits	45,197	43,091
Provision for rate refund	2,526	7,323
Interest accrued	27,249	22,642
Energy risk managment liability, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	4,063	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	8,251	33,019
Deferred compensation	9,604	8,302
Uncertain tax positions	31	27,239
Other current liabilities	17,559	17,154
Total current liabilities	309,852	321,002
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	760,602	649,926
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,547	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	138,414	133,274
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	16,019	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	2,184	23,494
Tax credit fund investment, net	85,307	61,507
Contingent sale obligations	10,350	29,357
Other deferred credits	38,580	35,114
Total deferred credits	1,058,003	972,287
Total liabilities	2,605,039	2,630,345
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	60,957	60,702
Premium on common stock	415,289	409,904
Retained earnings	1,072,468	990,605
Treasury stock, at cost	(21,085)	(13,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(25,775)	(28,139)
Total shareholders' equity	1,501,854	1,419,857
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,106,893	4,050,202
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	50,578	67,458
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,406	8,761
Customer accounts receivable	47,635	37,813
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,373	2,405
Other accounts receivable	35,969	35,618
Taxes receivable	0	3,197
Unbilled revenue	31,505	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,290	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	55,465	51,132
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	74,116	19,829
Accumulated deferred fuel	1,715	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,742	20,433
Prepayments	4,172	4,155
Regulatory assets- other	12,810	13,028
Other current assets	393	375
Total current assets	395,169	338,314
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,815,608	3,759,541
Accumulated depreciation	(1,209,401)	(1,153,004)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,606,207	2,606,537
Construction work in progress	180,777	97,595
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	2,786,984	2,704,132
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,139	4,770
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, less current portion	13,223	26,970
Restricted investments	4,470	0
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	219,433	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	258,344	269,444
Intangible asset	123,608	133,595
Other deferred charges	20,229	20,293
Total assets	3,840,131	3,726,471
Liabilities
Member's equity	1,296,433	1,230,862
Long-term debt, net	1,237,184	1,327,056
Total capitalization	2,533,617	2,557,918
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt due within one year	90,937	24,258
Accounts payable	96,370	115,091
Accounts payable - affiliate	10,069	9,311
Customer deposits	45,197	43,091
Provision for rate refund	2,526	7,323
Taxes payable	20,019	0
Interest accrued	28,806	22,540
Energy risk managment liability, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	4,063	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	8,251	33,019
Uncertain tax positions	0	27,465
Other current liabilities	13,580	11,193
Total current liabilities	319,818	301,957
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	828,195	675,835
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,547	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	98,450	94,147
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	16,019	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	222	19,906
Other deferred credits	37,263	37,093
Total deferred credits	986,696	866,596
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,840,131	$ 3,726,471