Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 46,467	$ 31,020
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,278	8,781
Customer accounts receivable	39,636	39,293
Other accounts receivable	24,219	37,741
Taxes receivable, net	0	34,612
Unbilled revenue	23,817	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	34,812	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	59,668	58,232
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	43,784	79,353
Accumulated deferred fuel	3,981	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	59,437	57,346
Prepayments	4,240	5,951
Regulatory assets- other	9,379	11,095
Other current assets	3,618	552
Total current assets	356,336	447,338
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,185,832	4,140,194
Accumulated depreciation	(1,332,760)	(1,311,273)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,853,072	2,828,921
Construction work in progress	172,093	180,540
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,025,165	3,009,461
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,344	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,788	5,440
Restricted investments	10,853	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	211,617	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	286,978	289,570
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,538	13,542
Intangible asset	117,401	120,545
Other deferred charges	20,571	21,355
Total assets	4,067,132	4,147,349
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	16,625	91,140
Accounts payable	66,131	102,695
Customer deposits	46,576	45,553
Provision for rate refund	4,186	4,165
Taxes payable	21,415	0
Interest accrued	26,233	12,957
Interest rate risk management liability	424	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	3,296	8,255
Deferred compensation	10,163	9,626
Uncertain tax positions	686	686
Other current liabilities	15,765	16,926
Total current liabilities	211,500	294,630
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	740,436	762,992
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,975	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	154,107	186,746
Restricted storm reserve	16,631	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	2,184	2,184
Tax credit fund investment, net	68,773	78,840
Contingent sale obligations	7,850	8,150
Other deferred credits	36,317	34,799
Total deferred credits	1,032,273	1,096,248
Long-term debt, net	1,314,229	1,257,258
Total liabilities	2,558,002	2,648,136
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,047	60,962
Premium on common stock	417,879	416,619
Retained earnings	1,081,663	1,075,074
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,962)	(21,072)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(30,497)	(32,370)
Total shareholders' equity	1,509,130	1,499,213
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,067,132	4,147,349
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	42,439	23,368
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,278	8,781
Customer accounts receivable	39,636	39,293
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,125	2,991
Other accounts receivable	23,881	37,562
Unbilled revenue	23,817	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	34,812	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	56,872	55,472
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	53,897	87,286
Accumulated deferred fuel	3,981	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,944	20,842
Prepayments	3,270	4,415
Regulatory assets- other	9,379	11,095
Other current assets	2,685	371
Total current assets	320,016	374,838
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,917,225	3,871,940
Accumulated depreciation	(1,246,863)	(1,227,078)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,670,362	2,644,862
Construction work in progress	166,100	176,584
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	2,836,462	2,821,446
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,344	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,691	5,343
Restricted investments	10,853	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	211,617	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	286,978	289,570
Intangible asset	117,401	120,545
Other deferred charges	19,209	19,897
Total assets	3,827,103	3,871,729
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	16,625	91,140
Accounts payable	57,570	89,782
Accounts payable - affiliate	6,831	10,097
Customer deposits	46,576	45,553
Provision for rate refund	4,186	4,165
Taxes payable	10,029	1,328
Interest accrued	27,350	13,893
Interest rate risk management liability	424	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	3,296	8,255
Other current liabilities	12,220	11,746
Total current liabilities	185,107	278,586
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	829,744	845,769
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,975	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	104,699	137,637
Restricted storm reserve	16,631	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	222	222
Other deferred credits	36,196	34,801
Total deferred credits	993,467	1,040,966
Member's equity	1,349,300	1,319,919
Long-term debt, net	1,299,229	1,232,258
Total capitalization	2,648,529	2,552,177
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(18,833)	(20,421)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,827,103	$ 3,871,729