Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Litigation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Discrimiation Complaint [Member] claim	Dec. 31, 2010 Discrimiation Complaint [Member]	Jul. 29, 2010 Discrimiation Complaint [Member] plaintiff	Jan. 23, 2013 Retaliation complaint [Member] claim	Jul. 31, 2012 Retaliation complaint [Member] plaintiff	Mar. 31, 2013 Other Litigation Matters [Member]	Mar. 09, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] claim resident	Dec. 31, 2009 Minimum [Member] Discrimiation Complaint [Member]	Mar. 09, 2010 Minimum [Member] Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member]	Apr. 30, 2011 Current Employee [Member] Discrimiation Complaint [Member] claim	Jul. 31, 2010 Current Employee [Member] Discrimiation Complaint [Member] employee	Dec. 31, 2009 Current Employee [Member] Discrimiation Complaint [Member] employee	Jul. 31, 2012 Current Employee [Member] Retaliation complaint [Member] employee	Dec. 31, 2009 Former Employee [Member] Discrimiation Complaint [Member] employee	Jul. 31, 2012 Former Employee [Member] Retaliation complaint [Member] employee	Mar. 31, 2010 Customer [Member] Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] customer
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs											1	8	6	4	3	3
Total number of plaintiffs			13		9
Minimum amount sought by plaintiffs								$ 35.0
Minimum amount sought by additional plaintiff		2.5
Number of claims settled and dismissed	11			9						1
Amount of estimated loss						$ 4.2			$ 30.0
Number of residents in second class action lawsuit							249
Number of class action law suits							2