Common and Preferred Stock, Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	$ 5,946,000		$ 7,003,000		$ 5,139,000
Tax Benefit (excluding income tax gross-up)	2,288,000		2,695,000		1,977,000
Compensation expense, non-forfeitable dividends paid on non-vested stock not expected to vest and stock options			100,000	[1]	100,000	[1]
Amount of stock based compensation capitalized	800,000		1,000,000
Non-vested share-based compensation arrangements expected to vest (in shares)	145,146
Non-vested share-based compensation arrangements, average vesting period	1 year 7 months
Equity Classification [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	4,440,000		3,494,000		2,327,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	4,429,000	[1]	3,391,000	[1]	2,276,000	[1]
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	11,000	[1]	103,000	[1]	51,000	[1]
Common Stock Equivalent Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	1,506,000		3,509,000		2,812,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	1,683,000		1,796,000		1,846,000
Tax Benefit (excluding income tax gross-up)	648,000		691,000		710,000
Amount of stock based compensation capitalized	600,000		700,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Equity Classification [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	1,074,000		678,000		575,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	1,074,000	[1]	678,000	[1]	575,000	[1]
Cleco Power [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	0		0		0
Cleco Power [Member] | Common Stock Equivalent Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pre-Tax Compensation Expense	609,000		1,118,000		1,271,000
LTICP [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Non-Vested Stock, total unrecognized before-tax compensation cost	$ 4,900,000

[1] (1) For each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, compensation expense included in Cleco’s Consolidated Statements of Income related to non-forfeitable dividends paid on non-vested stock that is not expected to vest and stock options was $0.1 million