Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating activities
Net income	$ 163,648	$ 195,848	$ 255,391
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	162,430	160,765	168,363
Gain on forgiveness of debt	0	0	(129,870)
Return on equity investment in investees	0	58,665	0
(Income) loss from equity investments	0	(62,050)	(38,849)
Unearned compensation expense	6,180	7,416	5,587
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(6,711)	(4,947)	(12,413)
Net deferred income taxes	19,930	23,618	54,873
Deferred fuel costs	(12,222)	653	21,086
Cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	(3,300)	1,687	(2,759)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(11,543)	(19,146)	(12,503)
Unbilled revenue	1,468	14,520	(22,675)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(9,539)	35,442	(7,465)
Prepayments	(59)	1,520	(2,316)
Accounts payable	(23,016)	(3,618)	8,140
Customer deposits	11,167	12,693	12,313
Long-term receivable	0	0	27,976
Postretirement benefit obligations	7,485	(55,529)	2,975
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(31,043)	(43,131)	(88,333)
Contingent sale obligations	0	10,900	4,714
Other deferred accounts	(15,695)	4,305	(114)
Taxes accrued	9,786	5,171	(34,266)
Interest accrued	(6,676)	(38,103)	2,466
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	38	4,646	7,885
Other operating	777	(1,264)	(3,307)
Net cash provided by operating activities	263,105	310,061	216,899
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(245,033)	(202,405)	(306,883)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	6,711	4,947	12,413
Property plant and equipment grants	16,647	2,788	0
Insurance reimbursement for property loss	5,454	4,482	0
Return of equity investment in investees	0	89,654	0
Equity investment in investees	0	(1,460)	(8,700)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	37,652	33,430	0
Contributions to tax credit fund	(59,645)	(43,921)	(35,871)
Repayment of company-owned life insurance loan	0	0	(14,355)
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	21,607	5,220	45,535
Purchase of restricted investments	(11,966)	0	0
Sale of restricted investments	1,348	0	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)
Issuance of long-term debt	50,000	100,000	247,245
Retirement of long-term debt	(74,368)	(12,269)	(120,867)
Repurchase of long-term debt	0	(132,000)	0
Repurchase of common stock	(8,007)	(13,009)	0
Settlement of treasury rate lock	0	(18,636)	5,675
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 (net of amount capitalized)	80,823	87,359	90,773
Interest paid on treasury rate lock settlement	0	8,128	0
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	(624)	46,636	75,498
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	16,102	17,525	6,032
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 Power [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	146,848	142,835	147,405
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	137,053	127,109	119,940
(Income) loss from equity investments		0	0
Unearned compensation expense	1,587	1,796	1,846
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(6,711)	(4,947)	(12,413)
Net deferred income taxes	57,364	45,608	34,555
Deferred fuel costs	(12,222)	653	21,086
Cash surrender value of company-owned life insurance	(409)	(383)	(345)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(12,290)	(18,206)	(12,608)
Unbilled revenue	1,468	14,520	(22,675)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(9,361)	35,673	(7,202)
Prepayments	249	1,294	(2,016)
Accounts payable	(22,874)	(4,498)	8,907
Accounts and notes payable, affiliate	(122)	600	(18,598)
Customer deposits	11,167	12,693	12,313
Postretirement benefit obligations	5,947	(57,531)	647
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(31,043)	(43,131)	(88,333)
Other deferred accounts	(19,989)	(2,399)	(10,009)
Taxes accrued	4,503	926	(7,561)
Interest accrued	(5,431)	(5,609)	1,594
Energy risk management assets and liabilities, net	38	4,646	7,885
Other operating	(1,672)	109	(1,933)
Net cash provided by operating activities	244,100	251,758	172,485
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(238,943)	(184,615)	(150,937)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	6,711	4,947	12,413
Property plant and equipment grants	16,647	2,788	0
Equity investment in investees	0	(1,460)	(200)
Repayment of company-owned life insurance loan	0	0	(14,355)
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	21,607	5,220	15,404
Purchase of restricted investments	(11,966)	0	0
Sale of restricted investments	1,348	0	0
Other investing	1,039	886	1,277
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(203,557)	(172,234)	(136,398)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	0	60,000	0
Payments on credit facility	0	(60,000)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	50,000	100,000	247,245
Retirement of long-term debt	(74,368)	(12,269)	(85,704)
Repurchase of long-term debt	0	(132,000)	0
Settlement of treasury rate lock	0	(18,636)	5,675
Distribution to parent	(58,000)	(130,000)	(150,000)
Other financing	(2,265)	(4,073)	(6,504)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(84,633)	(196,978)	10,712
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(44,090)	(117,454)	46,799
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	67,458	184,912	138,113
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	23,368	67,458	184,912
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	80,729	85,607	79,044
Interest paid on treasury rate lock settlement	0	8,128	0
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	(711)	2,233	(5,425)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	15,547	21,007	5,697
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	$ 21,559	$ 7,824	$ 304,134