Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating activities
Net income	$ 135,572	$ 140,536
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	120,792	122,676
Unearned compensation expense	4,707	4,986
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(2,880)	(4,298)
Net deferred income taxes	60,172	8,040
Deferred fuel costs	2,906	(4,218)
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(1,631)	(2,841)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(30,167)	(13,247)
Unbilled revenue	(4,967)	(1,376)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(5,595)	(15,943)
Accounts payable	(15,691)	(25,422)
Customer deposits	9,777	8,772
Postretirement benefit obligations	(26,968)	5,459
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(28,727)	(30,532)
Other deferred accounts	(7,480)	(17,388)
Taxes accrued	70,188	36,021
Interest accrued	11,793	7,616
Other operating	(2,136)	5,763
Net cash provided by operating activities	289,665	224,604
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(131,521)	(177,146)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	2,880	4,298
Property plant and equipment grants	729	15,075
Insurance reimbursement for property loss	0	5,454
Premiums paid on company-/trust-owned life insurance	(3,705)	(2,733)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	473	37,132
Contributions to tax credit fund	(38,940)	(46,859)
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,750	19,102
Purchase of restricted investments	(6,422)	(4,340)
Maturity of restricted investments	5,003	0
Other investing	942	799
Net cash used in investing activities	(164,811)	(149,218)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	198,000	0
Payments on credit facility	(223,000)	(10,000)
Issuance of long-term debt	160,000	50,000
Retirement of long-term debt	(113,969)	(74,368)
Repurchase of long-term debt	(60,000)	0
Repurchase of common stock	0	8,007
Settlement of interest rate swap	(3,269)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(64,448)	(58,459)
Other financing	(2,388)	236
Net cash used in financing activities	(109,074)	(100,598)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,780	(25,212)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,020	93,576
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	46,800	68,364
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	45,464	48,212
Income taxes refunded, net	(47,318)	(131)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	12,869	16,657
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	1,280	18,395
Employee Stock [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	240	257
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	124,142	121,873
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	114,078	102,724
Allowance for other funds used during construction	(2,880)	(4,298)
Net deferred income taxes	70,864	43,259
Deferred fuel costs	2,906	(4,218)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(30,125)	(13,807)
Unbilled revenue	(4,967)	(1,376)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	(5,500)	(15,778)
Accounts payable	(12,296)	(20,474)
Customer deposits	9,777	8,772
Postretirement benefit obligations	(29,784)	4,323
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(28,727)	(30,532)
Other deferred accounts	(10,143)	(20,057)
Taxes accrued	20,043	23,194
Interest accrued	12,182	9,482
Other operating	2,427	2,440
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,997	205,527
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(126,977)	(173,268)
Allowance for other funds used during construction	2,880	4,298
Property plant and equipment grants	729	15,075
Transfer of cash from restricted accounts	5,750	19,102
Purchase of restricted investments	(6,422)	(4,340)
Maturity of restricted investments	5,003	0
Other investing	857	804
Net cash used in investing activities	(118,180)	(138,329)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	160,000	0
Payments on credit facility	(160,000)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	160,000	50,000
Retirement of long-term debt	(113,969)	(74,368)
Repurchase of long-term debt	(60,000)	0
Settlement of interest rate swap	(3,269)	0
Distribution to parent	(75,000)	(58,000)
Other financing	(2,387)	(1,710)
Net cash used in financing activities	(94,625)	(84,078)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,192	(16,880)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	23,368	67,458
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,560	50,578
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	45,248	48,140
Income taxes refunded, net	(456)	(246)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	12,591	16,141
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment	$ 1,280	$ 18,395