Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, SERP (Details) (SERP Benefits [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	$ 0	$ 0
Components of periodic benefit costs
Service cost (credit)	468,000	506,000
Interest cost	725,000	678,000
Prior period service cost (credit)	12,000	14,000
Net loss	385,000	536,000
Net periodic benefit cost	1,590,000	1,734,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	2,700,000		2,700,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of periodic benefit costs
Net periodic benefit cost	300,000	400,000
Curent portion of SERP liability	$ 900,000		$ 700,000