Debt, Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended										0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member]	Feb. 04, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Jan. 28, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Oct. 07, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Oct. 07, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member]	Feb. 04, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Jan. 28, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation's credit facility draws [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Cleco Corporation [Member]
Credit Facilities [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity										$ 550,000,000			$ 250,000,000				$ 300,000,000
Maturity date														Oct. 07, 2016		Oct. 07, 2016
Interest rate description													LIBOR plus 1.50% or ABR			ABR	LIBOR plus 1.275%
Fees (in hundredths)													0.25%			0.00%
Amount outstanding																		0	25,000,000	10,000,000
Remaining borrowing capacity															225,000,000			300,000,000
Draws on credit facility	25,000,000	95,000,000	20,000,000	25,000,000	35,000,000	20,000,000	0	60,000,000	0												15,000,000	10,000,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit	10,000,000	100,000,000	100,000,000	10,000,000	40,000,000	100,000,000	0	60,000,000	0		15,000,000	10,000,000									15,000,000	10,000,000
Ratio of Indebtedness to Net Capital																							0.65	0.65
Unrestricted retained earnings							$ 623,700,000								$ 758,300,000			$ 623,700,000
Covenant compliance status															in compliance			in compliance