Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, SERP (Details) (SERP Benefits [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of periodic benefit costs
Service cost (credit)	$ 521,000	$ (258,000)	$ 1,028,000	$ 744,000
Interest cost	612,000	690,000	1,289,000	1,263,000
Prior period service cost (credit)	13,000	13,000	27,000	27,000
Net loss	616,000	573,000	1,152,000	882,000
Net periodic benefit cost	1,762,000	1,018,000	3,496,000	2,916,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	2,700,000		2,700,000		2,500,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of periodic benefit costs
Net periodic benefit cost	400,000	400,000	800,000	700,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	$ 800,000		$ 800,000		$ 800,000