Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,567	$ 31,020
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,067	8,781
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	48,732	39,293
Other accounts receivable	40,693	37,741
Taxes receivable, net	0	34,612
Unbilled revenue	36,012	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,220	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	61,671	58,232
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	46,443	79,353
Accumulated deferred fuel	9,593	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	60,006	57,346
Prepayments	6,111	5,951
Regulatory assets- other	7,803	11,095
Other current assets	17	552
Total current assets	385,935	447,338
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,233,991	4,140,194
Accumulated depreciation	(1,350,533)	(1,311,273)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,883,458	2,828,921
Construction work in progress	158,763	180,540
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,042,221	3,009,461
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,143	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,423	5,440
Restricted investments	12,548	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	213,061	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	290,764	289,570
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,533	13,542
Intangible asset	113,720	120,545
Other deferred charges	21,247	21,355
Total assets	4,116,136	4,147,349
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	3,000	0
Long-term debt due within one year	16,658	91,140
Accounts payable	93,981	102,695
Customer deposits	47,546	45,553
Provision for rate refund	4,589	4,165
Taxes payable	29,856	0
Interest accrued	12,115	12,957
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255
Deferred compensation	10,148	9,626
Uncertain tax positions	686	686
Other current liabilities	15,237	16,926
Total current liabilities	233,816	294,630
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	762,173	762,992
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,698	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	155,490	186,746
Restricted storm reserve	16,952	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	2,184	2,184
Tax credit fund investment, net	60,016	78,840
Contingent sale obligations	950	8,150
Other deferred credits	23,758	34,799
Total deferred credits	1,027,221	1,096,248
Long-term debt, net	1,323,765	1,257,258
Total liabilities	2,584,802	2,648,136
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,047	60,962
Premium on common stock	419,322	416,619
Retained earnings	1,101,626	1,075,074
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,786)	(21,072)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(29,875)	(32,370)
Total shareholders' equity	1,531,334	1,499,213
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,116,136	4,147,349
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2,743	23,368
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,067	8,781
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	48,732	39,293
Accounts receivable - affiliate	796	2,991
Other accounts receivable	40,186	37,562
Unbilled revenue	36,012	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,220	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	58,877	55,472
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	53,061	87,286
Accumulated deferred fuel	9,593	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	21,040	20,842
Prepayments	4,592	4,415
Regulatory assets- other	7,803	11,095
Other current assets	0	371
Total current assets	344,722	374,838
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	3,964,491	3,871,940
Accumulated depreciation	(1,262,963)	(1,227,078)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,701,528	2,644,862
Construction work in progress	152,568	176,584
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	2,854,096	2,821,446
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,143	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,327	5,343
Restricted investments	12,548	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	213,061	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	290,764	289,570
Intangible asset	113,720	120,545
Other deferred charges	19,949	19,897
Total assets	3,871,862	3,871,729
Current liabilities
Short-term debt	3,000	0
Long-term debt due within one year	16,658	91,140
Accounts payable	86,527	89,782
Accounts payable - affiliate	11,373	10,097
Customer deposits	47,546	45,553
Provision for rate refund	4,589	4,165
Taxes payable	16,770	1,328
Interest accrued	13,583	13,893
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255
Other current liabilities	11,582	11,746
Total current liabilities	211,628	278,586
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	850,423	845,769
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,698	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	105,642	137,637
Restricted storm reserve	16,952	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	222	222
Other deferred credits	23,463	34,801
Total deferred credits	1,002,400	1,040,966
Members' Equity	1,359,069	1,319,919
Long-term debt, net	1,298,765	1,232,258
Total capitalization	2,657,834	2,552,177
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(18,528)	(20,421)
Total shareholders' equity	1,359,069	1,319,919
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,871,862	$ 3,871,729