Disclosures about Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 entity	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 entity	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2		2
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 314,766	$ 282,894	$ 796,957	$ 720,776
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	14,843	15,408	37,917	38,464
Electric customer credits	(846)	(930)	(1,270)	1,025
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	328,763	297,372	833,604	760,265
Depreciation	41,756	34,931	110,529	99,028
Interest Expense	19,014	21,966	61,358	63,205
Interest income	332	132	789	163
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax			0	1
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	34,389	20,179	66,892	54,110
Net income	66,407	63,818	135,572	140,536
Additions to long-lived assets	39,280	66,375	129,024	168,018
Equity investment in investees	14,541		14,541		14,540
Total segment assets	4,127,517		4,127,517		4,147,349
Operating Segments [Member] | Midstream [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	12,339	13,890	26,483	21,434
Other operations	1	1	2	2
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	12,340	13,891	26,485	21,436
Depreciation	1,522	1,499	4,523	4,491
Interest Expense	312	(69)	(338)	244
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	4,083	2,489	7,221	7,278
Net income	1,164	3,429	6,180	11,053
Additions to long-lived assets	337	799	2,664	6,811
Equity investment in investees	0		0		0
Total segment assets	219,028		219,028		215,342
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	541	502	1,550	1,496
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	13,313	12,343	40,406	37,540
Operating revenue, net	13,854	12,845	41,956	39,036
Depreciation	272	233	755	689
Interest Expense	(110)	(124)	334	1,320
Interest income	(156)	(194)	(474)	(379)
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				1
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(3,048)	(2,050)	(5,887)	(7,916)
Net income	3,358	2,606	5,251	7,610
Additions to long-lived assets	358	503	1,629	1,371
Equity investment in investees	8		8		8
Total segment assets	106,158		106,158		201,678
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power, LLC and Subsidiary, Segment [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	314,766	282,894	796,957	720,776
Tolling operations	0	0	0	0
Other operations	14,301	14,905	36,366	36,967
Electric customer credits	(846)	(930)	(1,270)	1,025
Affiliate revenue	335	343	1,005	1,030
Operating revenue, net	328,556	297,212	833,058	759,798
Depreciation	39,962	33,199	105,251	93,847
Interest Expense	18,656	21,962	60,882	61,253
Interest income	331	129	784	153
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	33,355	19,740	65,558	54,748
Net income	61,885	57,783	124,142	121,873
Additions to long-lived assets	38,585	65,073	124,731	159,836
Equity investment in investees	14,532		14,532		14,532
Total segment assets	3,881,391		3,881,391		3,871,729
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0	0	0
Tolling operations	(12,339)	(13,890)	(26,483)	(21,434)
Other operations	0	0	(1)	(1)
Electric customer credits	0	0	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(13,648)	(12,686)	(41,411)	(38,570)
Operating revenue, net	(25,987)	(26,576)	(67,895)	(60,005)
Depreciation	0	0	0	1
Interest Expense	156	197	480	388
Interest income	157	197	479	389
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax				0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	0	0	0
Net income	0	0	(1)	0
Additions to long-lived assets	0	0	0	0
Equity investment in investees	1		1		0
Total segment assets	$ (79,060)		$ (79,060)		$ (141,400)