Disclosures about Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 entity	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 entity	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2		2
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 252,765	$ 228,293	$ 482,191	$ 437,883
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	11,531	12,111	23,074	23,056
Electric customer credits	(402)	(281)	(424)	1,955
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	263,894	240,123	504,841	462,894
Depreciation	34,740	32,250	68,773	64,097
Interest Expense	20,888	20,616	42,344	41,240
Interest income	257	(3)	457	31
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax			0	1
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	19,422	20,520	32,503	33,930
Net income	42,032	46,686	69,166	76,718
Additions to long-lived assets	45,795	62,292	89,744	101,643
Equity investment in investees	14,541		14,541		14,540
Total segment assets	4,116,136		4,116,136		4,147,349
Operating Segments [Member] | Midstream [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	9,307	6,309	14,144	7,543
Other operations	0	1	1	1
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	9,307	6,310	14,145	7,544
Depreciation	1,501	1,460	3,001	2,992
Interest Expense	(411)	(1,159)	(649)	313
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	3,979	4,051	3,139	4,789
Net income	6,350	6,534	5,016	7,624
Additions to long-lived assets	497	6,025	2,326	6,012
Equity investment in investees	0		0		0
Total segment assets	212,595		212,595		215,342
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	504	497	1,008	994
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	15,168	13,590	27,093	25,197
Operating revenue, net	15,672	14,087	28,101	26,191
Depreciation	280	232	483	456
Interest Expense	281	824	444	1,444
Interest income	(138)	(141)	(318)	(185)
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				1
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(2,521)	(4,031)	(2,839)	(5,866)
Net income	1,218	2,868	1,893	5,004
Additions to long-lived assets	710	482	1,271	869
Equity investment in investees	8		8		8
Total segment assets	146,538		146,538		201,678
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power, LLC and Subsidiary, Segment [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	252,765	228,293	482,191	437,883
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	11,027	11,613	22,064	22,062
Electric customer credits	(402)	(281)	(424)	1,955
Affiliate revenue	335	342	670	687
Operating revenue, net	263,725	239,967	504,501	462,587
Depreciation	32,959	30,559	65,288	60,648
Interest Expense	20,878	20,805	42,227	39,291
Interest income	255	(6)	453	23
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	17,965	20,501	32,203	35,008
Net income	34,464	37,284	62,257	64,089
Additions to long-lived assets	44,588	55,785	86,147	94,762
Equity investment in investees	14,532		14,532		14,532
Total segment assets	3,871,862		3,871,862		3,871,729
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	(9,307)	(6,309)	(14,144)	(7,543)
Other operations	0	0	1	(1)
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(15,503)	(13,932)	(27,763)	(25,884)
Operating revenue, net	(24,810)	(20,241)	(41,906)	(33,428)
Depreciation	0	(1)	1	1
Interest Expense	140	146	322	192
Interest income	140	144	322	193
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	(1)	0	(1)
Net income	0	0	0	1
Additions to long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Equity investment in investees	1		1		0
Total segment assets	$ (114,859)		$ (114,859)		$ (141,400)