Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member] Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member] Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member] Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member] Other Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Benefits [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Benefits [Member] Cleco Power [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension contributions designated for prior plan year						$ 34,000,000
Discretionary contributions to the pension plan					0
Current portion of other benefits liability											3,100,000		3,100,000		3,100,000	2,900,000		2,900,000		2,900,000
Components of periodic benefit costs
Service cost	2,460,000	2,007,000	4,945,000	4,156,000							314,000	397,000	628,000	793,000
Interest cost	4,533,000	4,697,000	8,970,000	9,127,000							481,000	476,000	962,000	953,000
Expected return on plan assets	(5,958,000)	(5,209,000)	(11,723,000)	(10,403,000)							0	0	0	0
Transition obligation	0	0	0	0							4,000	5,000	8,000	10,000
Prior period service cost (credit)	(18,000)	(18,000)	(36,000)	(36,000)							0	0	0	0
Net loss	3,236,000	2,390,000	6,609,000	4,173,000							319,000	200,000	637,000	400,000
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 4,253,000	$ 3,867,000	$ 8,765,000	$ 7,017,000			$ 600,000	$ 500,000	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,118,000	$ 1,078,000	$ 2,235,000	$ 2,156,000		$ 1,000,000	$ 900,000	$ 1,900,000	$ 1,800,000