Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,499,213	$ (32,370)	$ 1,319,919	$ 1,340,340	$ (20,421)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,495	2,495	1,893		1,893
Distributions to parent			(25,000)	(25,000)
Net Income	69,166		62,257	62,257
Balances at Jun. 30, 2013	1,531,334	(29,875)	1,359,069	1,377,597	(18,528)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	622		305
Net Income	42,032		34,464
Balances at Jun. 30, 2013	1,531,334		1,359,069
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	1,586,197	(25,876)	1,370,573	1,385,750	(15,177)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,388	1,388	853		853
Contributions			138,080	138,080
Distributions to parent			(70,000)	(70,000)
Net Income	62,557		58,965	58,965
Balances at Jun. 30, 2014	1,591,251	(24,488)	1,498,471	1,512,795	(14,324)
Balances at Mar. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	491		275
Net Income	36,633		32,658
Balances at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 1,591,251		$ 1,498,471