Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 01, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CLECO CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001089819
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		60,356,709
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,509,995,974
Cleco Power [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CLECO POWER LLC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018672
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No