Fair Value Accounting, Derivatives and Hedging (Details) (USD $)							3 Months Ended							0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Energy risk management asset [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Energy risk management asset [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Energy risk management liabilities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Energy risk management liabilities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Electric operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Power purchased for utility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] MW	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] MW	Nov. 14, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	May 30, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	May 07, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Natural gas derivative [Member] MMBTU	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Natural gas derivative [Member] MMBTU
FTRs, at Fair Value, Net [Abstract]
FTRs in Energy risk management asset			$ 3,972,000	$ 9,020,000
FTRs in Energy risk management liability					64,000	382,000
Total FTRs Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, at Fair Value, Net	3,908,000	8,638,000
FTRs [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on FTRs Not Designated as Hedging Instruments							3,965,000	(1,115,000)
Net gain (loss) on FTRs recognized in income									2,850,000
Number of open natural gas positions																		0	0
Number of FTRs Held												3,800,000	6,800,000
Notional amount of derivative														50,000,000
Remaining maturity of derivative														30 years
Interest rate on derivative														3.05%
Gain (Loss) on the settlement of forward starting interest rate derivative																(3,300,000)
Gain (Loss) deferred as a regulatory asset on settlement of forward starting interest rate derivative																(2,900,000)
Gain (loss) on forward starting interest rate swap remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)																(400,000)
Amortization period of gain (loss) on settlement of the forward starting interest rate derivative															25 years
Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), effective portion										0	1,762,000
Gain (Loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income, effective portion										(86,000)	(20,000)
Net hedge ineffectiveness gain (loss)											(400,000)
Interest rate cash flow hedge gain (loss) to be reclassified during the next 12 months																	$ (300,000)