Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Reclassifications

The corrections to the December 31, 2011 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows are presented in the following tables:

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 2011
	CLECO						CLECO POWER
(THOUSANDS)	AS REPORTED			AS ADJUSTED			AS REPORTED			AS ADJUSTED
Accounts receivable	$	(15,798	)	$	(19,146	)	$	(14,858	)	$	(18,206	)
Other deferred accounts	$	(1,084	)	$	4,305		$	(7,788	)	$	(2,399	)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	308,020		$	310,061		$	249,717		$	251,758
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	$	(200,364	)*	$	(202,405	)	$	(182,574	)	$	(184,615	)
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(101,675	)	$	(103,716	)	$	(170,193	)	$	(172,234	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	$	(97,552	)	$	(97,552	)	$	(117,454	)	$	(117,454	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	$	191,128		$	191,128		$	184,912		$	184,912
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	93,576		$	93,576		$	67,458		$	67,458
*This amount differs with the amount previously reported in the Registrants’ Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, due to Insurance reimbursement for property loss being shown separately from Additions to property, plant, and equipment in order to conform to the presentation used in the 2013 financial statements.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following:

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013			2012
Regulated utility plants	$	4,052,774		$	3,871,940
Other	273,748			268,254
Total property, plant, and equipment	4,326,522			4,140,194
Accumulated depreciation	(1,351,223		)	(1,311,273		)
Net property, plant, and equipment	$	2,975,299		$	2,828,921

Restricted Cash

Cleco’s restricted cash and cash equivalents consisted of:

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013		2012
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow	$	21	$	97
Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds	8,986		8,781
Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs	4,726		5,343
Cleco Power’s building renovation escrow	286		—
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	14,019	$	14,221

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The following table shows the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

	FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,
				2013					2012					2011
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARES AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)	INCOME		SHARES	PER SHARE AMOUNT		INCOME		SHARES	PER SHARE AMOUNT		INCOME		SHARES	PER SHARE AMOUNT
Income from continuing operations	$	160,685				$	163,648				$	195,848
Deduct:  non-participating stock dividends (4.5% preferred stock)	—					—					26
Deduct:  non-participating stock redemption costs (4.5% preferred stock)	—					—					112
Basic net income applicable to common stock	$	160,685	60,434,510	$	2.66	$	163,648	60,370,588	$	2.71	$	195,710	60,488,740	$	3.24
Effect of dilutive securities
Add:  stock option grants			—					4,154					20,647
Add:  restricted stock (LTICP)			285,580					253,387					324,177
Diluted net income applicable to common stock	$	160,685	60,720,090	$	2.65	$	163,648	60,628,129	$	2.70	$	195,710	60,833,564	$	3.22

Cleco Power [Member]

Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]

Property, Plant, and Equipment, Schedule of Significant Acquisitions

The plant acquisition adjustments and accumulated amortization reported in property, plant, and equipment and accumulated depreciation on Cleco Power’s balance sheet at December 31, 2013 and 2012, are shown in the following table.

	AT DEC. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2013		2012
Acadia Unit 1
Plant acquisition adjustment	$	95,578	$	95,578
Less:  accumulated amortization	12,201		9,018
Net plant acquisition adjustment	$	83,377	$	86,560
Teche
Plant acquisition adjustment	$	5,359	$	5,359
Less:  accumulated amortization	4,234		3,979
Net plant acquisition adjustment	$	1,125	$	1,380