Debt, Credit Facilities (Details) (Line of Credit [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013 Cleco Power [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Jul. 31, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Jul. 15, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 25.0	$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	250.0
Line of credit facility, interest rate (in hundreths)	1.70%
Line of credit facility, basis spread			1.50%
Line of credit facility, facility fees(in hundreths)	0.25%
Line of credit facility, Term	30 days
Line of credit facility, amount matured and renewed					15.0
Line of credit facility, amount matured and not renewed				$ 10.0