Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Stockholders' equity, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,419,857	$ 990,605	$ (28,139)	$ 1,230,862	$ 1,251,492	$ (20,630)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,364		2,364	1,698		1,698
Distributions to parent				(58,000)	(58,000)
Net income	140,536	140,536		121,873	121,873
Stockholders' equity, Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,501,854	1,072,468	(25,775)	1,296,433	1,315,365	(18,932)
Stockholders' equity, Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2012
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	815			607
Net income	63,818			57,783
Stockholders' equity, Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	1,501,854			1,296,433
Stockholders' equity, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	1,499,213	1,075,074	(32,370)	1,319,919	1,340,340	(20,421)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	3,045		3,045	2,153		2,153
Distributions to parent				(75,000)	(75,000)
Net income	135,572	135,572		124,142	124,142
Stockholders' equity, Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	1,577,914	1,145,962	(29,325)	1,371,214	1,389,482	(18,268)
Stockholders' equity, Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	550			260
Net income	66,407			61,885
Stockholders' equity, Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 1,577,914			$ 1,371,214