Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 31,020	$ 93,576
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,781	8,761
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	39,293	37,813
Other accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	37,741	42,051
Taxes receivable, net	34,612	44,584
Unbilled revenue	28,662	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	46,867	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	58,232	53,714
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	79,353	29,249
Accumulated deferred fuel	7,833	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	57,346	51,073
Prepayments	5,951	5,384
Regulatory assets- other	11,095	13,028
Other current assets	552	3,442
Total current assets	447,338	456,785
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,140,194	4,023,655
Accumulated depreciation	(1,311,273)	(1,230,783)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,828,921	2,792,872
Construction work in progress	180,540	101,027
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,009,461	2,893,899
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540
Prepayments	4,261	4,770
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, less current portion	5,440	27,067
Restricted Investments	10,852	0
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	210,445	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	289,570	269,444
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,542	13,633
Intangible asset	120,545	133,595
Other deferred charges	21,355	22,048
Total assets	4,147,349	4,050,202
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0
Long-term debt due within one year	91,140	26,099
Accounts payable	102,695	127,467
Customer deposits	45,553	43,091
Provision for rate refund	4,165	7,323
Interest accrued	12,957	22,642
Energy risk management liabilities, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	2,627	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	8,255	33,019
Deferred compensation	9,626	8,302
Uncertain tax positions	686	27,239
Other current liabilities	16,926	17,154
Total current liabilities	294,630	321,002
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	762,992	649,926
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,252	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	186,746	133,274
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	16,285	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	2,184	23,494
Tax credit fund investment, net	78,840	61,507
Contingent sale obligations	8,150	29,357
Other deferred credits	34,799	35,114
Total deferred credits	1,096,248	972,287
Long-term debt, net	1,257,258	1,337,056
Total liabilities	2,648,136	2,630,345
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock	60,962	60,702
Premium on common stock	416,619	409,904
Retained earnings	1,075,074	990,605
Treasury stock	(21,072)	(13,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,370)	(28,139)
Total shareholders' equity	1,499,213	1,419,857
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,147,349	4,050,202
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	23,368	67,458
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,781	8,761
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	39,293	37,813
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,991	2,405
Other accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	37,562	35,618
Taxes receivable, net	0	3,197
Unbilled revenue	28,662	30,129
Fuel inventory, at average cost	46,867	41,845
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	55,472	51,132
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	87,286	19,829
Accumulated deferred fuel	7,833	2,136
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,842	20,433
Prepayments	4,415	4,155
Regulatory assets- other	11,095	13,028
Other current assets	371	375
Total current assets	374,838	338,314
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,871,940	3,759,541
Accumulated depreciation	(1,227,078)	(1,153,004)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,644,862	2,606,537
Construction work in progress	176,584	97,595
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,821,446	2,704,132
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,261	4,770
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, less current portion	5,343	26,970
Restricted Investments	10,852	0
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	210,445	214,421
Regulatory assets - other	289,570	269,444
Intangible asset	120,545	133,595
Other deferred charges	19,897	20,293
Total assets	3,871,729	3,726,471
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	0
Long-term debt due within one year	91,140	26,099
Accounts payable	89,782	113,250
Accounts payable - affiliate	10,097	9,311
Customer deposits	45,553	43,091
Provision for rate refund	4,165	7,323
Taxes payable	1,328	0
Interest accrued	13,893	22,540
Energy risk management liabilities, net	0	5,336
Interest rate risk management liability	2,627	3,330
Regulatory liabilities - other	8,255	33,019
Uncertain tax positions	0	27,465
Other current liabilities	11,746	11,193
Total current liabilities	278,586	301,957
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	845,769	675,835
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	6,252	7,432
Postretirement benefit obligations	137,637	94,147
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	7,303
Restricted storm reserve	16,285	24,880
Uncertain tax positions	222	19,906
Other deferred credits	34,801	37,093
Total deferred credits	1,040,966	866,596
Member's equity	1,319,919	1,230,862
Long-term debt, net	1,232,258	1,327,056
Total capitalization	2,552,177	2,557,918
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Common shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(20,421)	(20,630)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,871,729	$ 3,726,471