Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Line of Credit [Member]	Mar. 20, 2013 Loans Payable [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Loans Payable [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 20, 2013 Loans Payable [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Ritas Storm Recovery Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Bonds [Member] Cleco Katrina/Ritas Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 01, 2013 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member]	Mar. 01, 2013 Bonds [Member] Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 5.25%, due 2037, mandatory tender on March 1, 2013 [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt outstanding, total	$ 1,330,000,000		$ 1,320,000,000
Long-term debt due within one year	16,625,000	91,140,000	16,625,000	91,140,000
Principal payments for Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds due within one year									14,400,000	14,400,000
Capital lease payments due within one year													2,200,000	2,200,000
Decrease of long-term debt from prior year	17,500,000		7,500,000
Decrease in credit facility draws					10,000,000
Principal payments made on Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bond									7,100,000	7,100,000
Decrease in capital lease obligations													500,000	500,000
Amortization of debt premium	100,000		100,000
Face value of outstanding bonds purchased											60,000,000	60,000,000
Accrued interest paid on purchase of bonds												1,600,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)							1.085%					0.11%
Bank term loan agreement, amount of borrowing						$ 60,000,000		$ 60,000,000