Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,419,857	$ 990,605	$ (28,139)	$ 1,230,862	$ 1,251,492	$ (20,630)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,549		1,549	1,092		1,092
Distributions to parent				(40,000)	(40,000)
Net income	76,718	76,718		64,089	64,089
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,456,267	1,029,160	(26,590)	1,256,043	1,275,581	(19,538)
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(3,249)			(3,548)
Net income	46,686			37,284
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,456,267			1,256,043
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,499,213	1,075,074	(32,370)	1,319,919	1,340,340	(20,421)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,495		2,495	1,893		1,893
Distributions to parent				(25,000)	(25,000)
Net income	69,166	69,166		62,257	62,257
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	1,531,334	1,101,626	(29,875)	1,359,069	1,377,597	(18,528)
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	622			305
Net income	42,032			34,464
Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 1,531,334			$ 1,359,069