Fair Value Accounting, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified																																																																																															3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Commercial Paper [Member] Restricted Investment, Noncurrent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member] Restricted Investment, Noncurrent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member] Restricted Investment, Noncurrent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member] Restricted Investment, Noncurrent [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Estimated Fair Value [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Commercial Paper [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Municipal Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Corporate Bonds [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Measured On A Recurring Basis [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] Federal Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 FTRs [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 FTRs [Member] Low [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 FTRs [Member] Low [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 FTRs [Member] High [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 FTRs [Member] High [Member]
Asset Description
Institutional money market funds	$ 12,200	$ 3,900	$ 14,400	$ 30,538	$ 36,100									$ 0	$ 0									$ 30,538	$ 36,100									$ 0	$ 0									$ 5,900	$ 3,900	$ 14,400									$ 24,241	$ 28,775									$ 0	$ 0									$ 24,241	$ 28,775									$ 0	$ 0
Available-for-sale debt securities						0	1,483	0	9,831	0	515	0	1,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0	1,483	0	9,831	0	515	0	1,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				1,483	1,500	9,831	9,800	515	500	1,000	1,000			0	1,483	0	9,831	0	515	0	1,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			0	1,483	0	9,831	0	515	0	1,000			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FTR assets				3,972	9,020									0	0									0	0									3,972	9,020																				3,972	9,020									0	0									0	0									3,972	9,020
Total Assets				34,510	57,949									0	0									30,538	48,929									3,972	9,020																				28,213	50,624									0	0									24,241	41,604									3,972	9,020
Liability Description
Long-term debt				1,473,263	1,420,048									0	0									1,473,263	1,420,048									0	0																				1,458,263	1,415,048									0	0									1,458,263	1,415,048									0	0
FTR liabilities				64	382									0	0									0	0									64	382																				64	382									0	0									0	0									64	382
Total Liabilities				1,473,327	1,420,430									0	0									1,473,263	1,420,048									64	382																				1,458,327	1,415,430									0	0									1,458,263	1,415,048									64	382
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning fair value of FTR assets (liabilities), net																																																																																															8,638
Realized losses																																																																																															(747)
Unrealized losses																																																																																															(1,060)
Purchases																																																																																															(85)
Sales																																																																																															(321)
Settlements																																																																																															(2,517)
Ending fair value of FTR assets (liabilities), net																																																																																															$ 3,908
FTRs Forward Price Range																																																																																																(5.24)	(4.88)	6.95	33.75