Income Taxes, Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accumulated Deferred Federal and State Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Amortization and Interest Recognized	$ 38,600,000	$ 27,500,000	$ 44,100,000
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	(822,831,000)	(594,135,000)
Net operating loss carryforward	139,036,000	18,542,000
Fuel costs	(9,400,000)	(6,135,000)
Deferred carrying charges	1,369,000	11,327,000
SERP - other comprehensive income	19,392,000	16,621,000
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(75,046,000)	(83,965,000)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	(2,275,000)	(9,486,000)
Other	(16,468,000)	(9,844,000)
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	(683,639,000)	(620,677,000)
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	(804,133,000)	(592,634,000)
Net operating loss carryforward	127,742,000	16,390,000
Fuel costs	(9,389,000)	(6,125,000)
Deferred carrying charges	1,369,000	11,327,000
SERP - other comprehensive income	11,961,000	11,984,000
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(75,046,000)	(83,965,000)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	(13,442,000)	(22,461,000)
Other	2,455,000	9,478,000
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	(758,483,000)	(656,006,000)
New Markets Tax Credit [Member]
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
New Market Tax Credits	$ 82,584,000	$ 36,398,000