Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	$ (32,370)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,355
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	536
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,873	4,798
Balances, March 31, 2013	(30,497)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of gain (loss) on prior service cost	336	165
Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(20,421)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,355
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	251
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,588	4,639
Balances, March 31, 2013	(18,833)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of gain (loss) on prior service cost	157	75
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Gain (Loss) and Prior Service Cost [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(6,495)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	536
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	536
Balances, March 31, 2013	(5,959)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of gain (loss) on prior service cost	336
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Gain (Loss) and Prior Service Cost [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(4,227)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	251
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	251
Balances, March 31, 2013	(3,976)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of gain (loss) on prior service cost	157
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(18,246)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0
Balances, March 31, 2013	(18,246)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(8,565)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0
Balances, March 31, 2013	(8,565)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(7,629)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,355
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,337
Balances, March 31, 2013	(6,292)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	848
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Balances, December 31, 2012	(7,629)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	1,355
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,337
Balances, March 31, 2013	(6,292)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax (benefit) expense of net derivative (loss) gain	848
Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	12
Interest Expense [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	12
Interest Expense [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	12
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of intererst charges on cash flow hedges	8
Interest Expense [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	12
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax (benefit) expense of reclassification of intererst charges on cash flow hedges	8
Regulatory Asset [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(30)
Regulatory Asset [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(30)
Regulatory Asset [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(30)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset	(20)
Regulatory Asset [Member] | Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(30)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax [Abstract]
Net tax expense (benefit) of reclassification of ineffectiveness to regulatory asset	$ (20)