Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Off-Balance Sheet Commitments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2006
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
FACE AMOUNT	$ 4,225
REDUCTIONS	0
NET AMOUNT	4,225
Cleco Corporation [Member] \| Guarantee Issued to Entergy Mississippi on behalf of Attala [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
FACE AMOUNT	500
REDUCTIONS	0
NET AMOUNT	500	500
Cleco Power [Member] \| Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit Issued to the Louisiana Department of Labor [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
FACE AMOUNT	3,725
REDUCTIONS	0
NET AMOUNT	$ 3,725
Percentage of average losses on which letter of credit is based (in hundredths)	110.00%

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant