Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 341,690	$ 263,105	$ 310,061
Investing activities
Contributions to tax credit fund	(51,011)	(59,645)	(43,921)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	1,619	37,652	33,430
Return of equity investment in investees	0	0	89,654
Other investing	1,144	2,382	5,061
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(236,216)	(229,164)	(103,716)
Financing activities
Retirement of short-term debt	0	0	(150,000)
Draws on credit facility	228,000	25,000	95,000
Payments on credit facility	(228,000)	(10,000)	(100,000)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(8,007)	(13,009)
Dividends paid on common stock	(86,376)	(78,844)	(68,023)
Other financing	(4,224)	(278)	(4,960)
Net cash used in financing activities	(107,838)	(96,497)	(303,897)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2,364)	(62,556)	(97,552)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,020	93,576	191,128
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	28,656	31,020	93,576
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid	77,296	80,823	95,487
Income taxes (refunded) paid, net	(47,374)	(624)	46,636
CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities	159,430	79,606	175,624
Investing activities
Contributions to tax credit fund	(51,011)	(59,645)	(43,921)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	1,619	37,652	33,430
Return of equity investment in investees	0	0	89,654
Other investing	(3,705)	(2,973)	(1,232)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(53,097)	(24,966)	77,931
Financing activities
Retirement of short-term debt	0	0	(150,000)
Draws on credit facility	48,000	25,000	35,000
Payments on credit facility	(68,000)	(10,000)	(40,000)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(8,007)	(13,009)
Dividends paid on common stock	(86,376)	(78,844)	(68,023)
Other financing	0	1,987	(201)
Net cash used in financing activities	(106,376)	(69,864)	(236,233)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(43)	(15,224)	17,322
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	7,418	22,642	5,320
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,375	7,418	22,642
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid	217	95	1,752
Income taxes (refunded) paid, net	(46,928)	59	31,180
Employee Stock [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	318	340	328
Employee Stock [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | CLECO CORPORATION (Parent Company Only) [Member]
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Issuance of common stock - ESPP	$ 318	$ 340	$ 328