Income Taxes, Income Tax Uncertainties (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Uncertain Tax Positions [Abstract]
Interest payable associated with uncertain tax positions	$ 88,000	$ 1,420,000
Interest charges related to uncertain tax positions	154,000	(9,223,000)	(27,175,000)
Liability for unrecognized tax benefit [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	3,126,000	56,235,000	102,785,000
Reduction for tax positions of current period	0	0	(4,129,000)
Additions for tax positions of prior years	2,193,000	0	11,031,000
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	(248,000)	0	(8,670,000)
Reduction for settlement with tax authority	0	(53,109,000)	(44,782,000)
Reduction for lapse of statute of limitations	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	5,071,000	3,126,000	56,235,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Customer Surcredits	8,400,000	6,200,000
Customer Surcredits - Interest Expenses	0	3,000,000
Uncertain Tax Positions [Abstract]
Interest payable associated with uncertain tax positions	11,000	3,358,000
Interest charges related to uncertain tax positions	11,000	(11,648,000)	2,116,000
Liability for unrecognized tax benefit [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	248,000	52,558,000	60,975,000
Reduction for tax positions of current period	0	0	(4,018,000)
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	0	4,271,000
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	(248,000)	0	(8,670,000)
Reduction for settlement with tax authority	0	(52,310,000)	0
Reduction for lapse of statute of limitations	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 248,000	$ 52,558,000