Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 252,765	$ 228,293	$ 482,191	$ 437,883
Other operations	11,531	12,111	23,074	23,056
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	264,296	240,404	505,265	460,939
Electric customer credits	(402)	(281)	(424)	1,955
Operating revenue, net	263,894	240,123	504,841	462,894
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	72,611	54,999	157,976	128,063
Power purchased for utility customers	13,940	16,068	18,796	24,705
Other operations	31,442	28,688	58,363	56,385
Maintenance	26,310	24,184	43,944	41,419
Depreciation	34,740	32,250	68,773	64,097
Taxes other than income taxes	10,285	9,713	22,919	19,743
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	(188)	(22)	846	(55)
Total operating expenses	189,140	165,880	371,617	334,357
Operating income	74,754	74,243	133,224	128,537
Interest income	257	(3)	457	31
Allowance for other funds used during construction	413	1,399	1,577	2,416
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax			0	1
Other income	8,165	13,014	10,438	22,389
Other expense	(1,247)	(831)	(1,683)	(1,486)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense and premium, net	21,017	21,094	42,848	42,062
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(129)	(478)	(504)	(822)
Total interest charges	20,888	20,616	42,344	41,240
Income before income taxes	61,454	67,206	101,669	110,648
Federal and state income tax expense	19,422	20,520	32,503	33,930
Net income applicable to common stock	42,032	46,686	69,166	76,718
Net income	42,032	46,686	69,166	76,718
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,445,617	60,421,028	60,419,588	60,387,388
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,713,374	60,660,702	60,670,112	60,625,377
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.77	$ 1.15	$ 1.27
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.77	$ 1.14	$ 1.27
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3625	$ 0.3125	$ 0.70	$ 0.625
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	252,765	228,293	482,191	437,883
Other operations	11,027	11,613	22,064	22,062
Affiliate revenue	335	342	670	687
Gross operating revenue	264,127	240,248	504,925	460,632
Electric customer credits	(402)	(281)	(424)	1,955
Operating revenue, net	263,725	239,967	504,501	462,587
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	72,611	54,695	157,976	127,759
Power purchased for utility customers	23,247	22,367	32,940	32,239
Other operations	29,540	27,243	54,912	53,585
Maintenance	23,585	19,630	38,379	35,644
Depreciation	32,959	30,559	65,288	60,648
Taxes other than income taxes	9,204	8,682	20,662	17,614
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	0	(1)	0	(1)
Total operating expenses	191,146	163,175	370,157	327,488
Operating income	72,579	76,792	134,344	135,099
Interest income	255	(6)	453	23
Allowance for other funds used during construction	413	1,399	1,577	2,416
Other income	1,268	1,228	1,965	2,323
Other expense	(1,208)	(823)	(1,652)	(1,473)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense and premium, net	21,007	21,283	42,731	40,113
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(129)	(478)	(504)	(822)
Total interest charges	20,878	20,805	42,227	39,291
Income before income taxes	52,429	57,785	94,460	99,097
Federal and state income tax expense	17,965	20,501	32,203	35,008
Net income	$ 34,464	$ 37,284	$ 62,257	$ 64,089