Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 46,800	$ 31,020
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,359	8,781
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	56,434	39,293
Other accounts receivable	42,671	37,741
Taxes receivable, net	0	34,612
Unbilled revenue	33,629	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	48,909	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	62,450	58,232
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	1,132	79,353
Accumulated deferred fuel	6,851	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	62,682	57,346
Prepayments	6,326	5,951
Regulatory assets- other	6,109	11,095
Other current assets	206	552
Total current assets	377,558	447,338
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,272,907	4,140,194
Accumulated depreciation	(1,371,857)	(1,311,273)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,901,050	2,828,921
Construction work in progress	151,254	180,540
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,052,304	3,009,461
Equity investment in investees	14,541	14,540
Prepayments	4,119	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,112	5,440
Restricted investments	12,275	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	217,550	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	298,520	289,570
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,528	13,542
Intangible asset	109,552	120,545
Other deferred charges	22,458	21,355
Total assets	4,127,517	4,147,349
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,147	91,140
Accounts payable	86,768	102,695
Customer deposits	48,287	45,553
Provision for rate refund	2,967	4,165
Taxes payable	35,671	0
Interest accrued	24,750	12,957
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255
Deferred compensation	10,424	9,626
Uncertain tax positions	4,610	686
Other current liabilities	14,171	16,926
Total current liabilities	244,795	294,630
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	755,868	762,992
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,421	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	156,950	186,746
Restricted storm reserve	17,309	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	0	2,184
Tax credit fund investment, net	48,806	78,840
Contingent sale obligations	900	8,150
Other deferred credits	28,564	34,799
Total deferred credits	1,013,818	1,096,248
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,290,990	1,257,258
Total liabilities	2,549,603	2,648,136
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,047	60,962
Premium on common stock	420,913	416,619
Retained earnings	1,145,962	1,075,074
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,683)	(21,072)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(29,325)	(32,370)
Total shareholders' equity	1,577,914	1,499,213
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,127,517	4,147,349
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	42,560	23,368
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,359	8,781
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	56,434	39,293
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,260	2,991
Other accounts receivable	42,453	37,562
Unbilled revenue	33,629	28,662
Fuel inventory, at average cost	48,909	46,867
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	59,597	55,472
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	8,306	87,286
Accumulated deferred fuel	6,851	7,833
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,234	20,842
Prepayments	4,528	4,415
Regulatory assets- other	6,109	11,095
Other current assets	0	371
Total current assets	333,229	374,838
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,001,194	3,871,940
Accumulated depreciation	(1,283,205)	(1,227,078)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,717,989	2,644,862
Construction work in progress	147,369	176,584
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	2,865,358	2,821,446
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,119	4,261
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,015	5,343
Restricted investments	12,275	10,852
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	217,550	210,445
Regulatory assets - other	298,520	289,570
Intangible asset	109,552	120,545
Other deferred charges	21,241	19,897
Total assets	3,881,391	3,871,729
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,147	91,140
Accounts payable	77,529	89,782
Accounts payable - affiliate	10,240	10,097
Customer deposits	48,287	45,553
Provision for rate refund	2,967	4,165
Taxes payable	21,371	1,328
Interest accrued	26,074	13,893
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255
Other current liabilities	10,744	11,746
Total current liabilities	214,359	278,586
Deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	848,020	845,769
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,421	6,252
Postretirement benefit obligations	106,636	137,637
Restricted storm reserve	17,309	16,285
Uncertain tax positions	0	222
Other deferred credits	27,442	34,801
Total deferred credits	1,004,828	1,040,966
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,290,990	1,232,258
Member's equity	1,371,214	1,319,919
Total capitalization	2,662,204	2,552,177
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(18,268)	(20,421)
Total shareholders' equity	1,371,214	1,319,919
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,881,391	$ 3,871,729