Income Taxes, Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before tax	$ 240,260	$ 228,975	$ 298,745
Statutory rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax at federal statutory rate	84,091	80,141	104,561
Increase (decrease):
Plant differences, including AFUDC flowthrough	427	(1,222)	(1,758)
Amortization of investment tax credits	(1,108)	(1,180)	(1,238)
State income taxes	1,094	(218)	2,155
Tax settlement	0	0	10,782
New markets tax credits	(4,806)	(9,261)	(4,697)
Other	(123)	(2,933)	(6,908)
Total taxes	79,575	65,327	102,897
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	33.10%	28.50%	34.40%
Cleco Power [Member]
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before tax	229,791	214,981	212,244
Statutory rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax at federal statutory rate	80,427	75,243	74,285
Increase (decrease):
Plant differences, including AFUDC flowthrough	427	(1,222)	(1,758)
Amortization of investment tax credits	(1,108)	(1,180)	(1,238)
State income taxes	730	(705)	(853)
Other	(1,095)	(4,003)	(1,027)
Total taxes	$ 79,381	$ 68,133	$ 69,409
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	34.50%	31.70%	32.70%