Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 314,766	$ 282,894	$ 796,957	$ 720,776
Other operations	14,843	15,408	37,917	38,464
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	329,609	298,302	834,874	759,240
Electric customer credits	(846)	(930)	(1,270)	1,025
Operating revenue, net	328,763	297,372	833,604	760,265
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	101,752	79,701	259,728	207,764
Power purchased for utility customers	5,999	19,364	24,795	44,069
Other operations	30,057	30,517	88,420	86,901
Maintenance	20,427	20,059	64,372	61,478
Depreciation	41,756	34,931	110,529	99,028
Taxes other than income taxes	12,007	9,455	34,926	29,198
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	(29)	(2)	817	(57)
Total operating expenses	211,969	194,025	583,587	528,381
Operating income	116,794	103,347	250,017	231,884
Interest income	332	132	789	163
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,303	1,882	2,880	4,298
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax			0	1
Other income	2,837	1,834	12,282	24,223
Other expense	(1,456)	(1,232)	(2,146)	(2,718)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	19,436	22,610	62,284	64,671
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(422)	(644)	(926)	(1,466)
Total interest charges	19,014	21,966	61,358	63,205
Income before income taxes	100,796	83,997	202,464	194,646
Federal and state income tax expense	34,389	20,179	66,892	54,110
Net income applicable to common stock	66,407	63,818	135,572	140,536
Net income	66,407	63,818	135,572	140,536
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,450,384	60,346,476	60,428,944	60,375,538
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,748,647	60,599,203	60,694,632	60,626,471
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.10	$ 1.06	$ 2.25	$ 2.33
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.09	$ 1.05	$ 2.23	$ 2.32
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3625	$ 0.3375	$ 1.0625	$ 0.9625
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	314,766	282,894	796,957	720,776
Other operations	14,301	14,905	36,366	36,967
Affiliate revenue	335	343	1,005	1,030
Gross operating revenue	329,402	298,142	834,328	758,773
Electric customer credits	(846)	(930)	(1,270)	1,025
Operating revenue, net	328,556	297,212	833,058	759,798
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	101,752	79,701	259,728	207,459
Power purchased for utility customers	18,339	33,254	51,278	65,493
Other operations	28,471	29,063	83,385	82,647
Maintenance	17,478	16,095	55,857	51,739
Depreciation	39,962	33,199	105,251	93,847
Taxes other than income taxes	10,891	8,390	31,554	26,004
Loss (gain) on sale of assets			0	(1)
Total operating expenses	216,893	199,702	587,053	527,188
Operating income	111,663	97,510	246,005	232,610
Interest income	331	129	784	153
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,303	1,882	2,880	4,298
Other income	2,838	1,188	4,606	3,511
Other expense	(2,239)	(1,224)	(3,693)	(2,698)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	19,078	22,606	61,808	62,719
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(422)	(644)	(926)	(1,466)
Total interest charges	18,656	21,962	60,882	61,253
Income before income taxes	95,240	77,523	189,700	176,621
Federal and state income tax expense	33,355	19,740	65,558	54,748
Net income	$ 61,885	$ 57,783	$ 124,142	$ 121,873