Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 160,685	$ 163,648	$ 195,848
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Postretirement benefits gain (loss), net of tax	5,016	(6,565)	(508)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,478	2,334	(15,993)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	6,494	(4,231)	(16,501)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	167,179	159,417	179,347
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	160,685	163,648	195,848
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Postretirement benefits gain (loss), net of tax	5,016	(6,565)	(508)
Net gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,478	2,334	(15,993)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	6,494	(4,231)	(16,501)
Comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 167,179	$ 159,417	$ 179,347