Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt outstanding, total	$ 1,310,000,000
Long-term debt due within one year	17,688,000	17,182,000
Capital lease payments due within one year	2,300,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(18,000,000)
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(10,000,000)
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(500,000)
Debt Discount Amortization [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	100,000
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds due within one year	15,400,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(7,600,000)
Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt outstanding, total	1,300,000,000
Long-term debt due within one year	17,688,000	17,182,000
Capital lease payments due within one year	2,300,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(28,000,000)
Cleco Power [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(20,000,000)
Cleco Power [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(500,000)
Cleco Power [Member] | Debt Discount Amortization [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	100,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] | Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds due within one year	15,400,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	$ (7,600,000)