Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating 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
Affiliate revenue	0	0	202
Gross operating revenue	1,098,550	994,327	1,124,124
Electric customer credits	(1,836)	(630)	(6,811)
Operating revenue, net	1,096,714	993,697	1,117,313
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	329,874	280,553	383,254
Power purchased for utility customers	45,292	53,134	70,462
Other operations	121,646	120,898	123,849
Maintenance	97,441	86,488	82,076
Depreciation	142,860	132,407	122,578
Taxes other than income taxes	50,469	38,515	36,356
Gain (loss) on sales of assets	800	51	491
Total operating expenses	788,382	712,046	819,066
Operating income (loss)	308,332	281,651	298,247
Interest income	1,105	346	891
Allowance for other funds used during construction	4,081	6,711	4,947
Equity income (loss) from investees, before tax	0	0	62,050
Other income	13,857	29,117	8,914
Other expense	(2,861)	(4,694)	(5,646)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	85,570	86,448	72,445
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(1,316)	(2,292)	(1,787)
Total interest charges	84,254	84,156	70,658
Income before income taxes	240,260	228,975	298,745
Federal and state income tax expense	79,575	65,327	102,897
Net income	160,685	163,648	195,848
Preferred dividends requirements	0	0	26
Preferred stock redemption costs	0	0	112
Net income applicable to common stock	160,685	163,648	195,710
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,434,510	60,370,588	60,488,740
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,720,090	60,628,129	60,833,564
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.66	$ 2.71	$ 3.24
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.65	$ 2.70	$ 3.22
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	1,047,548	944,169	1,051,956
Other operations	48,909	48,156	50,948
Affiliate revenue	1,338	1,372	1,389
Gross operating revenue	1,097,795	993,697	1,104,293
Electric customer credits	(1,836)	(630)	(6,811)
Operating revenue, net	1,095,959	993,067	1,097,482
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	329,874	280,249	383,254
Power purchased for utility customers	76,962	78,683	70,462
Other operations	114,884	115,072	116,988
Maintenance	85,638	72,386	74,603
Depreciation	135,717	125,486	115,634
Taxes other than income taxes	46,203	33,999	32,157
Gain (loss) on sales of assets	0	(2)	(9)
Total operating expenses	789,278	705,873	793,089
Operating income (loss)	306,681	287,194	304,393
Interest income	1,100	333	630
Allowance for other funds used during construction	4,081	6,711	4,947
Other income	4,883	5,847	3,163
Other expense	(4,277)	(4,602)	(3,799)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	83,993	82,794	98,877
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(1,316)	(2,292)	(1,787)
Total interest charges	82,677	80,502	97,090
Income before income taxes	229,791	214,981	212,244
Federal and state income tax expense	79,381	68,133	69,409
Net income	$ 150,410	$ 146,848	$ 142,835