Fair Value Accounting, Effect of Derivatives on Consolidated Statements of Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] MMBTU	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member] Fuel Used For Electric Generation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member] Interest Rate Derivatives [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 AccumulatedDeferredFuel [Member] Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 AccumulatedDeferredFuel [Member] Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] Fuel Cost Hedges [Member]
Derivative, gain (loss) recognized in income [Abstract]
Gain (loss) recognized in income for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	$ 0					$ 0
Amount of loss recognized in income on derivatives		(3,500,000)					(3,500,000)
Unrealized gains (losses)									0	0
Deferred gains (losses)									0	0
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in OCI			1,762,000	4,657,000
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion)			(20,000)	1,000
Amount of ineffectiveness related to the interest rate derivative			400,000	2,600,000
Natural gas requirements hedged [Abstract]
Millions MMBtus hedged for natural gas fuel costs					0
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months, Net								$ (300,000)