The change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The LPSC authorization of funding for a reserve of future storm costs.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of restricted cash and cash equivalents transfered to an outside investment manager.

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of the excess of amortized cost basis over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months for securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months.

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- Definition

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the second fiscal year through the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

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This item represents the gross unrealized gains for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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This item represents the gross unrealized losses for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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No definition available.

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Fair Value Accounting, Restricted Investments (Details) (USD $)			3 Months Ended																3 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2012 Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2007 Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Debt Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Debt Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Debt Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Debt Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Estimated Fair Value [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Storm Reserve [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
LPSC authorized storm reserve funding		$ 50,000,000
Amount of restricted cash and cash equivalents transfered to an investment manager	13,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Reconciliation [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis			10,865,000	10,877,000	9,567,000	10,228,000	1,298,000	649,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains									4,000	3,000	4,000	3,000	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses									16,000	28,000	16,000	28,000	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure			10,853,000	10,852,000	9,555,000	10,203,000	1,298,000	649,000							9,555,000	10,203,000	9,555,000	10,203,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Gain (Loss), Net of tax																			100,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses					16,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value					7,034,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses					0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value					0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Next Twelve Months, Fair Value			6,286,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Fair Value			4,567,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss)			$ 0