Pension Plan and Employee Benefits (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

401(k) Plan [Abstract]

401(k) Plan expense

Cleco’s 401(k) Plan expense for the three monthsended March 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013		2012
401(k) Plan expense	$	1,279	$	1,493

Pension Benefits [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Net periodic benefit costs

The components of net periodic pension and other benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, are as follows:

	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013			2012			2013		2012
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	2,484		$	2,149		$	314	$	397
Interest cost	4,437			4,430			481		476
Expected return on plan assets	(5,764		)	(5,194		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			4		5
Prior period service cost	(18		)	(18		)	—		—
Net loss	3,373			1,783			318		200
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,512		$	3,150		$	1,117	$	1,078

SERP Benefits [Member]

Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]

Net periodic benefit costs

Cleco Power is considered the plan sponsor and Support Group is considered the plan administrator.

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013		2012
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	506	$	1,001
Interest cost	678		574
Amortizations:
Prior period service cost	14		14
Net loss	536		309
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,734	$	1,898