Jointly Owned Generation Units (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Nameplate capacity (MW)	2,565
Cleco Power [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Number of generation units jointly owned	2
Utility plant in service	$ 397,021,000
Accumulated depreciation	268,738,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Jointly Owned Electricity Generation Plant [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Operating and maintenance expenses associated with jointly owned generation units	130,200,000	131,800,000	118,300,000
Fuel costs included in operating and maintenance expenses associated with jointly owned generation units	107,900,000	109,200,000	97,900,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Rodemacher Unit #2 [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Utility plant in service	92,011,000
Accumulated depreciation	69,600,000
Ownership	30.00%
Nameplate capacity (MW)	523
Cleco Power's ownership interest (MW)	157
Cleco Power [Member] | Dolet Hills [Member]
Jointly Owned Utility Plant Interests [Line Items]
Utility plant in service	305,010,000
Accumulated depreciation	$ 199,138,000
Ownership	50.00%
Nameplate capacity (MW)	650
Cleco Power's ownership interest (MW)	325