Disclosures about Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 entity	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 269,759	$ 229,425
Tolling operations	0	0
Other operations	14,814	11,543
Electric customer credits	(186)	(21)
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Operating revenue, net	284,387	240,947
Depreciation	41,741	34,032
Interest charges	20,268	21,456
Interest income	602	201
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	13,678	13,081
Net Income (loss)	25,924	27,133
Additions to (reductions in) long-lived assets	58,056	43,948
Equity investment in investees	14,540		14,540
Total segment assets	4,182,997		4,215,262
Operating Segments [Member] | Midstream [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Tolling operations	5,467	4,837
Other operations	0	1
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Operating revenue, net	5,467	4,838
Depreciation	1,269	1,500
Interest charges	13	(239)
Interest income	0	0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(81)	(840)
Net Income (loss)	(130)	(1,334)
Additions to (reductions in) long-lived assets	(176,293)	1,829
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Total segment assets	51,180		225,832
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Tolling operations	0	0
Other operations	541	504
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	13,192	11,925
Operating revenue, net	13,733	12,429
Depreciation	269	203
Interest charges	362	163
Interest income	(133)	(180)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(451)	(317)
Net Income (loss)	(252)	674
Additions to (reductions in) long-lived assets	196	561
Equity investment in investees	8		8
Total segment assets	66,632		88,234
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power, LLC and Subsidiary, Segment [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	269,759	229,425
Tolling operations	0	0
Other operations	14,272	11,038
Electric customer credits	(186)	(21)
Affiliate revenue	335	336
Operating revenue, net	284,180	240,778
Depreciation	40,203	32,330
Interest charges	19,758	21,349
Interest income	602	198
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	14,210	14,238
Net Income (loss)	26,307	27,793
Additions to (reductions in) long-lived assets	234,153	41,558
Equity investment in investees	14,532		14,532
Total segment assets	4,091,584		3,943,712
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Tolling operations	(5,467)	(4,837)
Other operations	1	0
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(13,527)	(12,261)
Operating revenue, net	(18,993)	(17,098)
Depreciation	0	(1)
Interest charges	135	183
Interest income	133	183
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net Income (loss)	(1)	0
Additions to (reductions in) long-lived assets	0	0
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Total segment assets	$ (26,399)		$ (42,516)