The Company (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013 entity
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2
Cleco Power [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of generation units owned	9
Nameplate capacity (MW)	2,565
Approximate number of customers served	284,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Oxbow [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest received (in hundredths)	50.00%
Evangeline [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of generation units owned	2
Nameplate capacity (MW)	775