Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees Fuel Transportation Agreement and Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012
Fuel Transportation Agreement [Abstract]
Capital lease term		The initial term of this agreement is from the date of the amendment until August 31, 2017. The term of this agreement will automatically renew for successive periods of two years each unless written notice is provided by either party.
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
Current liabilities	$ 1,841,000	$ 2,171,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2013		3,725,000
2014		3,725,000
2015		3,725,000
2016		3,735,000
2017		2,480,000
Total minimum lease payments		17,390,000
Less: executory costs		4,347,000
Net minimum lease payments		13,043,000
Less: amount representing interest		1,693,000
Present value of net minimum lease payments		11,350,000
Current liabilities	1,841,000	2,171,000
Non-current liabilities		9,179,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Barges [Member]
Fuel Transportation Agreement [Abstract]
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	4,700,000	4,300,000
Amount of Sublease Revenue that Reduced Lease Payment		400,000
Analysis of leased property under capital leases by major classes [Abstract]
Barges	22,050,000	11,350,000
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Accumulated Depreciation	6,567,000	0
Net capital leases	$ 15,483,000	$ 11,350,000