Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Summary of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	$ 230,489	$ 229,173
Cleco Power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	230,489	229,173
Total regulatory assets, net	483,186	480,956
Cleco Power [Member] | Fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities		(3,869)
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred taxes, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	230,489	229,173
Cleco Power [Member] | Total regulatory assets - other [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	251,115	255,652
Cleco Power [Member] | Mining costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	13,382	14,019
Cleco Power [Member] | Interest costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,853	5,943
Cleco Power [Member] | Asset removal costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	954	936
Cleco Power [Member] | Postretirement plan costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	91,638	93,333
Cleco Power [Member] | Tree trimming costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,560	4,840
Cleco Power [Member] | Training costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,136	7,175
Cleco Power [Member] | Surcredits, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	17,033	16,738
Cleco Power [Member] | Amended lignite mining agreement contingency [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,781	3,781
Cleco Power [Member] | Power purchase agreement capacity costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,143	9,749
Cleco Power [Member] | AMI deferred revenue requirement [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,400	4,682
Cleco Power [Member] | Production O&M Expenses [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	8,459	8,459
Cleco Power [Member] | AFUDC equity gross-up [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	73,257	73,306
Cleco Power [Member] | Rate case costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	0	45
Cleco Power [Member] | Acadia Unit 1 acquisition costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	2,734	2,760
Cleco Power [Member] | Financing costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	9,679	9,772
Cleco Power [Member] | Biomass costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	106	114
Cleco Power [Member] | Fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	$ 1,582