Amounts Deposited With IRS, Amount Remaining to Offset Tax and Interest Liabilities

No definition available.

Name:	cnl_AmountsDepositedWithIrsAmountRemainingToOffsetTaxAndInterestLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amounts deposited with the IRS associated with years currently under audit. (Cleco does this in order to stop the accrual of interest on possible taxes owed.)

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cnl_DepositsWithIrs
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	cnl_SummaryOfIncomeTaxExaminationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cnl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the additional liability or refund received or expected based on a final settlement with a taxing authority.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLiabilityRefundAdjustmentFromSettlementWithTaxingAuthority
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax year being audited in the income tax examination, in CCYY format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationYearUnderExamination
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax year that remains open to examination under enacted tax laws, in CCYY format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OpenTaxYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit of a position taken for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount thereof will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 48

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Income Taxes, Income Tax Examination (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified				3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Open tax year				2004	2002	2012	2011
Summary of income tax examinations [Abstract]
Deposits with the IRS			$ 60.4
Deposits with the IRS remaining to offset tax and interest liabilities			43.5
Liability (refund) adjustment from settlement with taxing authority		42.3
Income tax years that are under examination				2007		2012
Maximum decrease in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of settlement with the IRS	$ 0.7