Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2014	$ 10,571,000
2015	10,713,000
2016	10,784,000
2017	8,789,000
2018	3,009,000
Thereafter	9,669,000
Total operating lease payments	53,535,000
Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	100,000	100,000	100,000
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2014	11,000
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
2018	0
Thereafter	0
Total operating lease payments	11,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2014	10,560,000
2015	10,713,000
2016	10,784,000
2017	8,789,000
2018	3,009,000
Thereafter	9,669,000
Total operating lease payments	53,524,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	600,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Railcars Group 1 [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Number of railcars	115
Lease terms	lease expires on March 31, 2021
Cleco Power [Member] | Railcars Group 2 [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Number of railcars	116
Lease terms	lease expires on March 31, 2017
Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	400,000	400,000	400,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	300,000	300,000	300,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Railroad Transportation Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	1,000,000	1,100,000	1,100,000
Number of groups of railcar leases	2
Cleco Power [Member] | 483211 Inland Water Freight Transportation [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	$ 4,700,000	$ 5,600,000	$ 5,600,000
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	1 year
Minimum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract	7 years