Fair Value Accounting, Carrying Value and Estimated Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,567,000	$ 31,020,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,490,000	14,221,000
Short-term Debt, excluding debt issuance costs	3,000,000	0
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,338,069,000	1,345,198,000
Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	7,567,000	31,020,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,490,000	14,221,000
Short-term Debt, excluding debt issuance costs	3,000,000	0
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,455,061,000	1,579,674,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,743,000	23,368,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,394,000	14,124,000
Short-term Debt, excluding debt issuance costs	3,000,000	0
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	1,313,069,000	1,320,198,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Estimated Fair Value [Member]
Financial instruments not marked-to-market [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	2,743,000	23,368,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	12,394,000	14,124,000
Short-term Debt, excluding debt issuance costs	3,000,000	0
Long-term debt, excluding debt issuance costs	$ 1,430,061,000	$ 1,554,674,000