This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Variable Interest Entities, Ownership Interest (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011 Acadia Power Partners [Member] APH [Member]	Apr. 29, 2011 Cajun [Member] APH [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member] Subsidiaries less than 100% owned by Cleco Innovations LLC [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Equity Method Investments	$ 14,540	$ 14,540	$ 14,540			$ 100
Ownership interest received (in hundredths)				100.00%
Ownership interest exchanged (in hundredths)					50.00%