Debt Debt, Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap (Details) (Cleco Power [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2011	May 30, 2013	May 07, 2013
Interest rate swap [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on the settlement of Forward Starting Interest Rate Derivative			$ (3.3)
Swap [Member]
Interest rate swap [Line Items]
Interest Rate Derivative, Notional Amount	50.0
Derivative, Swaption Interest Rate	3.05%
Interest Rate Derivative, Remaining Maturity	30 years
Gain (Loss) on the settlement of Forward Starting Interest Rate Derivative			(3.3)
Deferred Gain (Loss) as a Regulatory Asset of Forward Starting Interest Rate Derivative			(2.9)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Interest Rate Derivative			$ (0.4)
Amortization Period of Gain (Loss) on settlement of the Forward Starting Interest Rate Derivative		25 years