Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Disclosures about Guarantees (Details) (USD $)								12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States for Performance Obligations of Perryville [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Louisiana on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Lignite Mining Agreement Guarantee [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Guarantee Issued to Cleco Power on behalf of Acadia [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 APH [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 1 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] Acadia Unit 2 Transaction [Member]
Disclosures about Guarantees [Abstract]
Liability recognized on the balance sheets	$ 12,156,000		$ 200,000		$ 3,800,000			$ 6,800,000
Fair value of indemnification liability recorded								13,500,000
Percentage of affiliates indemnification liability accepted by entity (in hundredths)								50.00%
Indemnification received from third parties								6,800,000
Maximum residual value of indemnification obligation								100,000		200,000
Contingent sale obligations	8,150,000	29,357,000						400,000		7,800,000	21,800,000
Income from contractual expiration of indemnification								0	900,000			7,200,000	900,000	14,000,000	0
Estimated maximum projected payment				298,800,000	72,500,000	30,000,000	10,000,000
Off-balance sheet commitments, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	4,225,000		42,400,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	3,725,000
1-3 YEARS	0
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	500,000
On-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	12,156,000		200,000		3,800,000			6,800,000
LESS THAN ONE YEAR	7,250,000
1-3 YEARS	900,000
3-5 YEARS	0
MORE THAN 5 YEARS	4,006,000
Total off-balance sheet commitments and on-balance sheet guarantees, expected termination dates [Abstract]
Total NET AMOUNT COMMITTED	16,381,000
Total LESS THAN ONE YEAR	10,975,000
Total 1-3 YEARS	900,000
Total 3-5 YEARS	0
Total MORE THAN 5 YEARS	$ 4,506,000