Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 18,157	$ 28,656
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,893	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	48,936	50,567
Other accounts receivable	51,836	46,981
Unbilled revenue	25,452	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,644	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	63,095	62,811
Energy risk management asset	3,972	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	72,180	94,179
Accumulated deferred fuel	1,582	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	67,237	64,720
Prepayments	5,945	9,204
Regulatory assets- other	5,930	5,975
Other current assets	1,575	404
Total current assets	423,434	473,582
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,326,317	4,326,522
Accumulated depreciation	(1,371,281)	(1,351,223)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,955,036	2,975,299
Construction work in progress	156,048	107,841
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,111,084	3,083,140
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540
Prepayments	4,532	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	14,494	5,033
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	230,489	229,173
Regulatory assets - other	245,185	249,677
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,517	13,523
Intangible asset	102,487	106,007
Other deferred charges	23,235	23,248
Total assets	4,182,997	4,215,262
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,688	17,182
Accounts payable	111,454	110,544
Customer deposits	50,247	48,456
Provision for rate refund	3,720	3,533
Taxes payable	18,766	18,680
Interest accrued	29,472	12,188
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	64	382
Deferred compensation	10,852	11,081
Uncertain tax positions	4,610	4,610
Other current liabilities	14,198	12,948
Total current liabilities	261,071	243,473
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	860,033	869,150
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,905	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	104,189	103,483
Restricted storm reserve	14,025	17,646
Tax credit fund investment, net	32,350	41,840
Contingent sale obligations	900	900
Other deferred credits	31,777	31,929
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,048,179	1,070,092
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,296,965	1,315,500
Total liabilities	2,606,215	2,629,065
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,051	61,047
Premium on common stock	415,708	422,624
Retained earnings	1,152,801	1,149,003
Treasury stock, at cost	(27,799)	(20,601)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(24,979)	(25,876)
Total shareholders' equity	1,576,782	1,586,197
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,182,997	4,215,262
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	11,464	21,055
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,893	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	48,936	50,567
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,932	1,045
Other accounts receivable	51,804	46,939
Unbilled revenue	25,452	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	53,644	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	63,095	59,964
Energy risk management asset	3,972	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	58,256	80,981
Accumulated deferred fuel	1,582	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,420	19,326
Prepayments	4,166	7,074
Regulatory assets- other	5,930	5,975
Other current assets	1,177	388
Total current assets	355,723	403,399
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,311,221	4,052,774
Accumulated depreciation	(1,361,984)	(1,260,843)
Net property, plant, and equipment	2,949,237	2,791,931
Construction work in progress	152,386	104,113
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,101,623	2,896,044
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,532	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	14,473	5,012
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	230,489	229,173
Regulatory assets - other	245,185	249,677
Intangible asset	102,487	106,007
Other deferred charges	22,540	22,529
Total assets	4,091,584	3,943,712
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,688	17,182
Accounts payable	105,784	98,785
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,793	8,386
Customer deposits	50,247	48,456
Provision for rate refund	3,720	3,533
Taxes payable	982	6,700
Interest accrued	27,977	13,589
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	64	382
Other current liabilities	10,904	9,791
Total current liabilities	225,159	210,673
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	980,908	945,559
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,905	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	53,249	52,953
Restricted storm reserve	14,025	17,646
Other deferred credits	30,835	30,664
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,083,922	1,051,966
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,281,965	1,310,500
Total capitalization	2,782,503	2,681,073
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(14,599)	(15,177)
Total shareholders' equity	1,500,538	1,370,573
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 4,091,584	$ 3,943,712