Variable Interest Entities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments - Summarized Financial Information

The following tables contain summarized financial information for Cajun through the disposition of Acadia Unit 2.

(THOUSANDS)	AT DEC. 31, 2010
Current assets	$	7,133
Property, plant, and equipment, net	203,793
Total assets	$	210,926
Current liabilities	$	1,950
Other liabilities	9,429
Partners’ capital	199,547
Total liabilities and partners’ capital	$	210,926

(THOUSANDS)	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 2011*
Operating revenue	$	5,227
Operating expenses	5,914
Gain on sale of assets	71,422
Other income	929
Income before taxes	$	71,664

* The 2011 income statement includes only activity prior to the April 29, 2011, reconsolidation.

The following tables contain summarized financial information for Oxbow.

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
Current assets	$	1,814	$	1,711
Property, plant, and equipment, net	23,029		23,339
Other assets	4,248		4,128
Total assets	$	29,091	$	29,178
Current liabilities	$	26	$	40
Other liabilities	—		73
Partners’ capital	29,065		29,065
Total liabilities and partners’ capital	$	29,091	$	29,178

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011		2010
Operating revenue	$	1,126	$	1,781	$	931
Operating expenses	1,126		1,781		931
Income before taxes	$	—	$	—	$	—

Equity Income (Loss) from Investments Accounted for Using the Equity Method

The following table presents the equity income (loss) from each investment accounted for using the equity method.

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011			2010
Cajun	$	—	$	62,053		$	38,848
Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Innovations LLC	—		(3		)	1
Total equity income	$	—	$	62,050		$	38,849

Components of Equity Investments

The following table presents the equity income (loss) from each investment accounted for using the equity method.

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011			2010
Cajun	$	—	$	62,053		$	38,848
Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Innovations LLC	—		(3		)	1
Total equity income	$	—	$	62,050		$	38,849

The following table presents the components of Cleco Power’s equity investment in Oxbow.

	AT DEC. 31,
INCEPTION TO DATE (THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
Purchase price	$	12,873	$	12,873
Cash contributions	1,659		1,659
Total equity investment in investee	$	14,532	$	14,532

Comparison of Investee's Assets and Liabilities with Maximum Exposure to Loss

The following table compares the carrying amount of Oxbow’s assets and liabilities with Cleco’s maximum exposure to loss related to its investment in Oxbow.

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
Oxbow’s net assets/liabilities	$	29,065	$	29,065
Cleco Power’s 50% equity	$	14,532	$	14,532
Cleco’s maximum exposure to loss	$	14,532	$	14,532

The following table compares the carrying amount of Oxbow’s assets and liabilities with Cleco’s maximum exposure to loss related to its investment in Oxbow.

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
Oxbow’s net assets/liabilities	$	29,065	$	29,065
Cleco Power’s 50% equity	$	14,532	$	14,532
Cleco’s maximum exposure to loss	$	14,532	$	14,532