Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Apr. 29, 2011
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	$ 0	$ 62,050,000		$ 38,849,000
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	14,540,000	14,540,000		86,732,000
Cajun [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Value of plant acquisition (proceeds)					298,800,000
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets				7,133,000
Property, plant and equipment, net				203,793,000
Total assets				210,926,000
Current liabilities				1,950,000
Other liabilities				9,429,000
Partner's capital				199,547,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital				210,926,000
Operating revenue		5,227,000
Operating expenses		5,914,000
Gain on sale of assets		71,422,000
Other income		929,000
Income (loss) before taxes		71,664,000
Equity method investment, income tax expense (benefit)		24,000,000	[1]	14,700,000
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	0	62,053,000		38,848,000
Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Cleco Innovations LLC [Member]
Equity income (loss) from equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity income (loss)	0	(3,000)		1,000
Oxbow [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%
Ownership percentage by other parties (in hundredths)	50.00%
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets	1,814,000	1,711,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,029,000	23,339,000
Other assets	4,248,000	4,128,000
Total assets	29,091,000	29,178,000
Current liabilities	26,000	40,000
Other liabilities	0	73,000
Partner's capital	29,065,000	29,065,000
Total liabilities and partners' capital	29,091,000	29,178,000
Operating revenue	1,126,000	1,781,000		931,000
Operating expenses	1,126,000	1,781,000		931,000
Income (loss) before taxes	0	0		0
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873,000	12,873,000
Cash contributions	1,659,000	1,659,000
Total equity investment in investee	14,532,000	14,532,000
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Net assets/liabilities	29,065,000	29,065,000
Entity's 50% equity	14,532,000	14,532,000
Cleco's maximum exposure to loss	$ 14,532,000	$ 14,532,000

[1] The 2011 income statement includes only activity prior to the April 29, 2011, reconsolidation.