Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Summary of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	$ 210,445	$ 214,421
Cleco Power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets-other	510,688	458,707
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	210,445	214,421
Cleco Power [Member] | Total federal regulatory asset - income taxes [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	24,222	34,127
Cleco Power [Member] | Total state regulatory asset - income taxes [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	57,480	51,720
Cleco Power [Member] | AFUDC [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	132,267	132,802
Cleco Power [Member] | Total investment tax credit [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities	(3,524)	(4,228)
Cleco Power [Member] | Total regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	210,445	214,421
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred mining costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	16,569	19,117
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	6 years 6 months
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred interest costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,304	6,667
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	27 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred asset removal costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	867	829
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	37 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred postretirement plan costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	156,458	132,556
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred tree trimming costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,656	8,371
Remaining recovery period- regulatory assets	2 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred training costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,330	7,486
Remaining recovery period- regulatory assets	47 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred storm surcredits, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,211	9,254
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	10 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred construction carrying costs - asset [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	4,697	10,883
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	0 years 9 months
Cleco Power [Member] | Lignite mining agreement contingency [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,781	3,781
Cleco Power [Member] | PowerPurchaseAgreementCapacityCosts [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,217	0
Remaining recovery period- regulatory assets	2 years 6 months
Cleco Power [Member] | AMI Deferred Revenue Requirement [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	1,483	0
Remaining recovery period- regulatory assets	15 years
Cleco Power [Member] | AFUDC equity gross-up [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	74,158	74,346
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	1 year
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred rate case costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	581	1,117
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	27 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred Acadia Unit 1 acquisition costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	2,865	2,971
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	0 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred IRP/RFP costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	39	508
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	0 years 6 months
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred AMI pilot costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	22	153
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	29 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred Financing costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,282	4,433
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	5 years
Cleco Power [Member] | Biomass costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	145	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Total regulatory assets - other [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Total regulatory assets-other	300,665	282,472
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred construction carrying costs - liability [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Remaining Recovery Period of Regulatory Assets for which No Return on Investment During Recovery Period is Provided	0 years 7 months
Regulatory liabilities	(8,255)	(40,322)
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	$ 7,833	$ 2,136