Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets, and Funded Status (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 SERP Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 SERP Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 SERP Benefits [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] SERP Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cleco Power [Member] SERP Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension contributions designated for prior plan year										$ 34,000,000
Discretionary contributions to pension plan		0					0
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	431,569,000	361,986,000		45,569,000	42,680,000		59,422,000	46,264,000
Service cost	9,889,000	8,312,000	8,390,000	1,656,000	1,461,000	1,532,000	2,055,000	1,487,000	1,566,000
Interest cost	17,940,000	18,254,000	17,629,000	1,568,000	2,239,000	1,818,000	2,578,000	2,526,000	2,105,000
Plan participants' contributions	0	0		1,241,000	1,308,000
Actuarial loss	(50,133,000)	58,109,000		(1,768,000)	2,462,000		(3,477,000)	11,651,000
Expenses paid	(1,916,000)	(1,511,000)		0	0
Medicare D	0	0		194,000	0
Other adjustments	0	0		601,000	0
Benefits paid	(14,861,000)	(13,581,000)		(5,221,000)	(4,581,000)		(2,713,000)	(2,506,000)
Benefit obligation at end of year	392,488,000	431,569,000	361,986,000	43,840,000	45,569,000	42,680,000	57,865,000	59,422,000	46,264,000
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	344,041,000	312,395,000
Actual return on plan assets	23,291,000	46,738,000
Employer contributions	34,000,000	0
Expenses paid	(1,916,000)	(1,511,000)		0	0
Benefits paid	(14,861,000)	(13,581,000)		(5,221,000)	(4,581,000)		(2,713,000)	(2,506,000)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	384,555,000	344,041,000	312,395,000
Unfunded status	(7,933,000)	(87,528,000)		(43,840,000)	(45,569,000)
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current				3,500,000	3,100,000						3,200,000	2,900,000
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent											30,700,000	32,400,000
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities, Current							2,700,000	2,500,000					700,000	800,000
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent													$ 14,300,000	$ 17,700,000