Disclosures about Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 entity	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 entity	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2								2
Revenue
Electric operations									$ 1,047,548	$ 944,169	$ 1,051,956
Tolling operations									0	0	19,004
Other operations									51,002	50,158	52,962
Electric customer credits									(1,836)	(630)	(6,811)
Affiliate revenue									0	0	202
Operating revenue, net	263,109	328,763	263,894	240,947	233,431	297,372	240,123	222,773	1,096,714	993,697	1,117,313
Depreciation									142,860	132,407	122,578
Interest Expense									84,254	84,156	70,658
Interest income									1,105	346	891
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax									0	0	62,050
Federal and state income tax expense									79,575	65,327	102,897
Net income									160,685	163,648	195,848
Additions to Long-Lived Assets									191,876	232,724	211,695
Equity investment in investees	14,540				14,540				14,540	14,540	14,540
Total segment assets	4,215,262				4,147,349				4,215,262	4,147,349	4,050,202
Unallocated items:
Preferred dividends requirements									0	0	26
Preferred stock redemption costs									0	0	112
Net income applicable to common stock	25,112	66,407	42,032	27,133	23,112	63,818	46,686	30,031	160,685	163,648	195,710
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power, LLC and Subsidiary, Segment [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations									1,047,548	944,169	1,051,956
Tolling operations									0	0	0
Other operations									48,909	48,156	50,948
Electric customer credits									(1,836)	(630)	(6,811)
Affiliate revenue									1,338	1,372	1,389
Operating revenue, net									1,095,959	993,067	1,097,482
Depreciation									135,717	125,486	115,634
Interest Expense									82,677	80,502	97,090
Interest income									1,100	333	630
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax											0
Federal and state income tax expense									79,381	68,133	69,409
Net income									150,410	146,848	142,835
Additions to Long-Lived Assets									184,684	222,104	201,980
Equity investment in investees	14,532				14,532				14,532	14,532	14,532
Total segment assets	3,943,712				3,871,729				3,943,712	3,871,729	3,726,471
Operating Segments [Member] | Midstream [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations									0	0	0
Tolling operations									31,670	25,559	19,004
Other operations									2	3	9
Electric customer credits									0	0	0
Affiliate revenue									0	0	45
Operating revenue, net									31,672	25,562	19,058
Depreciation									6,043	6,006	5,872
Interest Expense									(331)	770	(28,996)
Interest income									0	0	25
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax											62,053
Federal and state income tax expense									7,110	6,404	44,637
Net income									4,372	9,155	42,792
Additions to Long-Lived Assets									4,106	8,759	8,437
Equity investment in investees	0				0				0	0	0
Total segment assets	225,832				215,342				225,832	215,342	233,891
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations									0	0	0
Tolling operations									0	0	0
Other operations									2,091	1,998	2,011
Electric customer credits									0	0	0
Affiliate revenue									55,145	52,063	53,068
Operating revenue, net									57,236	54,061	55,079
Depreciation									1,100	916	1,072
Interest Expense									1,274	2,269	2,405
Interest income									(628)	(602)	77
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax											(3)
Federal and state income tax expense									(6,917)	(9,210)	(11,149)
Net income									5,903	7,645	10,221
Additions to Long-Lived Assets									3,086	1,861	1,278
Equity investment in investees	8				8				8	8	8
Total segment assets	88,234				201,678				88,234	201,678	201,074
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations									0	0	0
Tolling operations									(31,670)	(25,559)	0
Other operations									0	1	(6)
Electric customer credits									0	0	0
Affiliate revenue									(56,483)	(53,435)	(54,300)
Operating revenue, net									(88,153)	(78,993)	(54,306)
Depreciation									0	(1)	0
Interest Expense									634	615	159
Interest income									633	615	159
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax											0
Federal and state income tax expense									1	0	0
Net income									0	0	0
Additions to Long-Lived Assets									0	0	0
Equity investment in investees	0				0				0	0	0
Total segment assets	(42,516)				(141,400)				(42,516)	(141,400)	(111,234)
Cleco Power [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations									1,047,548	944,169	1,051,956
Other operations									48,909	48,156	50,948
Electric customer credits									(1,836)	(630)	(6,811)
Affiliate revenue									1,338	1,372	1,389
Operating revenue, net	262,900	328,556	263,725	240,778	233,269	297,212	239,967	222,620	1,095,959	993,067	1,097,482
Depreciation									135,717	125,486	115,634
Interest Expense									82,677	80,502	97,090
Interest income									1,100	333	630
Federal and state income tax expense									79,381	68,133	69,409
Net income									150,410	146,848	142,835
Equity investment in investees	14,532				14,532				14,532	14,532
Total segment assets	$ 3,943,712				$ 3,871,729				$ 3,943,712	$ 3,871,729