Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, SERP (Details) (SERP Benefits [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer			$ 0	$ 0
Components of periodic benefit costs
Service cost (credit)	514,000	372,000	1,541,000	1,115,000
Interest cost	645,000	632,000	1,934,000	1,895,000
Prior period service cost (credit)	13,000	13,000	40,000	40,000
Net loss	576,000	441,000	1,728,000	1,324,000
Net periodic benefit cost	1,748,000	1,458,000	5,243,000	4,374,000
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	1,200,000	1,100,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	$ 800,000		$ 800,000		$ 800,000