Income Taxes, Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Deferred Federal and State Income Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Amortization and Interest Recognized	$ 13,300,000	$ 38,600,000	$ 27,500,000
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	(878,298,000)	(822,831,000)
Net operating loss carryforward	95,360,000	139,036,000
New market tax credits	99,782,000	82,584,000
Fuel costs	(7,229,000)	(9,400,000)
Deferred carrying charges	0	1,369,000
SERP - other comprehensive income	15,330,000	19,392,000
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(84,702,000)	(75,046,000)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	(5,075,000)	(2,275,000)
Other (Liabilities)	(10,139,000)	(16,468,000)
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	(774,971,000)	(683,639,000)
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	(836,771,000)	(804,133,000)
Net operating loss carryforward	81,102,000	127,742,000
Fuel costs	(7,229,000)	(9,389,000)
Deferred carrying charges	0	1,369,000
SERP - other comprehensive income	8,681,000	11,961,000
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(84,702,000)	(75,046,000)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	(19,056,000)	(13,442,000)
Other (Liabilities)	(6,603,000)
Other (Asset)		2,455,000
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	$ (864,578,000)	$ (758,483,000)