Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 269,759	$ 229,425
Other operations	14,814	11,543
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Gross operating revenue	284,573	240,968
Electric customer credits	(186)	(21)
Operating revenue, net	284,387	240,947
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	59,047	85,365
Power purchased for utility customers	52,724	4,856
Other operations	26,993	26,924
Maintenance	32,369	17,635
Depreciation	41,741	34,032
Taxes other than income taxes	14,106	12,634
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	69	1,034
Total operating expenses	227,049	182,480
Operating income	57,338	58,467
Interest income	602	201
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,631	1,164
Other income	971	2,273
Other expense	(672)	(435)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	20,758	21,831
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(490)	(375)
Total interest charges	20,268	21,456
Income before income taxes	39,602	40,214
Federal and state income tax expense	13,678	13,081
Net income	25,924	27,133
Net income applicable to common stock	25,924	27,133
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,472,969	60,399,697
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,713,587	60,667,401
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.45
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.45
Cash dividends paid per share of common stock	$ 0.3625	$ 0.3375
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	269,759	229,425
Other operations	14,272	11,038
Affiliate revenue	335	336
Gross operating revenue	284,366	240,799
Electric customer credits	(186)	(21)
Operating revenue, net	284,180	240,778
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	59,047	85,365
Power purchased for utility customers	58,191	9,693
Other operations	25,321	25,373
Maintenance	30,256	14,794
Depreciation	40,203	32,330
Taxes other than income taxes	12,974	11,458
Total operating expenses	225,992	179,013
Operating income	58,188	61,765
Interest income	602	198
Allowance for other funds used during construction	1,631	1,164
Other income	363	697
Other expense	(509)	(444)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	20,248	21,724
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(490)	(375)
Total interest charges	19,758	21,349
Income before income taxes	40,517	42,031
Federal and state income tax expense	14,210	14,238
Net income	$ 26,307	$ 27,793