Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 28,656,000	$ 31,020,000	$ 93,576,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,986,000	8,781,000
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	50,567,000	39,293,000
Other accounts receivable	46,981,000	37,741,000
Taxes receivable, net	0	34,612,000
Unbilled revenue	31,166,000	28,662,000
Fuel inventory, at average cost	60,913,000	46,867,000
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	62,811,000	58,232,000
Energy risk management assets	9,020,000	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	94,179,000	79,353,000
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	7,833,000
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	64,720,000	57,346,000
Prepayments	9,204,000	5,951,000
Regulatory assets- other	5,975,000	11,095,000
Other current assets	404,000	552,000
Total current assets	473,582,000	447,338,000
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,326,522,000	4,140,194,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,351,223,000)	(1,311,273,000)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,975,299,000	2,828,921,000
Construction work in progress	107,841,000	180,540,000
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,083,140,000	3,009,461,000
Equity investment in investees	14,540,000	14,540,000	14,540,000
Prepayments	4,510,000	4,261,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,033,000	5,440,000
Restricted Investments	12,829,000	10,852,000
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	229,173,000	210,445,000
Regulatory assets - other	249,677,000	289,570,000
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,523,000	13,542,000
Intangible asset	106,007,000	120,545,000
Other deferred charges	23,248,000	21,355,000
Total assets	4,215,262,000	4,147,349,000	4,050,202,000
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,182,000	91,140,000
Accounts payable	110,544,000	102,695,000
Customer deposits	48,456,000	45,553,000
Provision for rate refund	3,533,000	4,165,000
Taxes payable	18,680,000	0
Interest accrued	12,188,000	12,957,000
Accumulated deferred fuel	3,869,000	0
Energy risk management liabilities	382,000	0
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627,000
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255,000
Deferred compensation	11,081,000	9,626,000
Uncertain tax positions	4,610,000	686,000
Other current liabilities	12,948,000	16,926,000
Total current liabilities	243,473,000	294,630,000
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	869,150,000	762,992,000
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,144,000	6,252,000
Postretirement benefit obligations	103,483,000	186,746,000
Restricted storm reserve	17,646,000	16,285,000
Uncertain tax positions	0	2,184,000
Tax credit fund investment, net	41,840,000	78,840,000
Contingent sale obligations	900,000	8,150,000
Other deferred credits	31,929,000	34,799,000
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,070,092,000	1,096,248,000
Member's equity	1,586,197,000	1,499,213,000	1,419,857,000
Long-term debt, net	1,315,500,000	1,257,258,000
Total liabilities	2,629,065,000	2,648,136,000
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,047,000	60,962,000
Premium on common stock	422,624,000	416,619,000
Retained earnings	1,149,003,000	1,075,074,000
Treasury stock	(20,601,000)	(21,072,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(25,876,000)	(32,370,000)	(28,139,000)
Total shareholders' equity	1,586,197,000	1,499,213,000	1,419,857,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,215,262,000	4,147,349,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	21,055,000	23,368,000	67,458,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,986,000	8,781,000
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	50,567,000	39,293,000
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,045,000	2,991,000
Other accounts receivable	46,939,000	37,562,000
Unbilled revenue	31,166,000	28,662,000
Fuel inventory, at average cost	60,913,000	46,867,000
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	59,964,000	55,472,000
Energy risk management assets	9,020,000	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	80,981,000	87,286,000
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	7,833,000
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,326,000	20,842,000
Prepayments	7,074,000	4,415,000
Regulatory assets- other	5,975,000	11,095,000
Other current assets	388,000	371,000
Total current assets	403,399,000	374,838,000
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,052,774,000	3,871,940,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,260,843,000)	(1,227,078,000)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,791,931,000	2,644,862,000
Construction work in progress	104,113,000	176,584,000
Total property, plant and equipment, net	2,896,044,000	2,821,446,000
Equity investment in investees	14,532,000	14,532,000
Prepayments	4,510,000	4,261,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	5,012,000	5,343,000
Restricted Investments	12,829,000	10,852,000
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	229,173,000	210,445,000
Regulatory assets - other	249,677,000	289,570,000
Intangible asset	106,007,000	120,545,000
Other deferred charges	22,529,000	19,897,000
Total assets	3,943,712,000	3,871,729,000
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,182,000	91,140,000
Accounts payable	98,785,000	89,782,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	8,386,000	10,097,000
Customer deposits	48,456,000	45,553,000
Provision for rate refund	3,533,000	4,165,000
Taxes payable	6,700,000	1,328,000
Interest accrued	13,589,000	13,893,000
Accumulated deferred fuel	3,869,000	0
Energy risk management liabilities	382,000	0
Interest rate risk management liability	0	2,627,000
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	8,255,000
Other current liabilities	9,791,000	11,746,000
Total current liabilities	210,673,000	278,586,000
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	945,559,000	845,769,000
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	5,144,000	6,252,000
Postretirement benefit obligations	52,953,000	137,637,000
Restricted storm reserve	17,646,000	16,285,000
Uncertain tax positions	0	222,000
Other deferred credits	30,664,000	34,801,000
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,051,966,000	1,040,966,000
Member's equity	1,370,573,000	1,319,919,000	1,230,862,000
Long-term debt, net	1,310,500,000	1,232,258,000
Total capitalization	2,681,073,000	2,552,177,000
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Common shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(15,177,000)	(20,421,000)	(20,630,000)
Total shareholders' equity	1,370,573,000	1,319,919,000	1,230,862,000
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,943,712,000	3,871,729,000
Cleco Power, LLC and Subsidiary, Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Property, plant and equipment
Equity investment in investees	14,532,000	14,532,000	14,532,000
Total assets	$ 3,943,712,000	$ 3,871,729,000	$ 3,726,471,000