Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 263,105	$ 310,061	$ 216,899
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment, net	(245,033)	(202,405)	(306,883)
Contributions to tax credit fund	(59,645)	(43,921)	(35,871)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	37,652	33,430	0
Return of equity investment in investees	0	89,654	0
Other investing	(1,939)	3,549	(770)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(229,164)	(103,716)	(308,631)
Financing activities
Issuance of short-term debt	0	0	150,000
Retirement of short-term debt	0	(150,000)	0
Draws on credit facility	25,000	95,000	20,000
Payments on credit facility	(10,000)	(100,000)	(100,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(8,007)	(13,009)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(78,844)	(68,023)	(58,988)
Other financing	(278)	(4,960)	(5,398)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(96,497)	(303,897)	137,667
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(62,556)	(97,552)	45,935
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	93,576	191,128	145,193
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	31,020	93,576	191,128
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid	80,823	87,359	90,773
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	(624)	46,636	75,498
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	340	328	299
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	21,559	7,824	152,067
Non-cash return of investment	0	0	152,067
Non-cash contribution to subsidiary, net of tax	0	0	225,732
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	79,606	175,624	174,912
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment, net	0	0	(152,067)
Contributions to tax credit fund	(59,645)	(43,921)	(35,871)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	37,652	33,430	0
Return of equity investment in investees	0	89,654	0
Other investing	(2,973)	(1,232)	(2,900)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(24,966)	77,931	(190,838)
Financing activities
Issuance of short-term debt	0	0	150,000
Retirement of short-term debt	0	(150,000)	0
Draws on credit facility	25,000	35,000	20,000
Payments on credit facility	(10,000)	(40,000)	(100,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(8,007)	(13,009)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(78,844)	(68,023)	(58,988)
Other financing	1,987	(201)	3,154
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(69,864)	(236,233)	14,166
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(15,224)	17,322	(1,760)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22,642	5,320	7,080
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,418	22,642	5,320
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid	95	1,752	8,205
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	59	31,180	80,905
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	340	328	299
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0	152,067
Non-cash return of investment	0	0	152,067
Non-cash contribution to subsidiary, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 225,732