Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 163,648	$ 195,848	$ 255,391
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Amortization of postretirement benefit net loss (gain) (net of tax)	2,117	1,213	(31)
Postretirement benefit loss incurred during the year (net of tax)	(8,682)	(1,721)	(4,241)
Cash flow hedges:
Net derivatives (loss) gain (net of tax)	433	(15,788)	2,916
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,231)	(16,501)	(347)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	159,417	179,347	255,044
Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	37	(205)	315
Other Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	0	0	694
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	163,648	195,848	255,391
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Amortization of postretirement benefit net loss (gain) (net of tax)	2,117	1,213	(31)
Postretirement benefit loss incurred during the year (net of tax)	(8,682)	(1,721)	(4,241)
Cash flow hedges:
Net derivatives (loss) gain (net of tax)	433	(15,788)	2,916
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,231)	(16,501)	(347)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	159,417	179,347	255,044
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	37	(205)	315
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member] | Other Expense [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of net (gain) loss (net of tax)	0	0	694
Regulatory Asset [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset (net of tax)	1,864	0	0
Regulatory Asset [Member] | CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Cash flow hedges:
Reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset (net of tax)	$ 1,864	$ 0	$ 0