Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Summary of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	$ 232,673	$ 229,173
Cleco Power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	232,673	229,173
Total regulatory assets, net	520,163	480,956
Cleco Power [Member] | Fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory liabilities		(3,869)
Cleco Power [Member] | Deferred taxes, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets and liabilities - deferred taxes, net	232,673	229,173
Cleco Power [Member] | Total regulatory assets - other [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	252,043	255,652
Cleco Power [Member] | Mining costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	12,745	14,019
Cleco Power [Member] | Interest costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	5,762	5,943
Cleco Power [Member] | Asset removal costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	973	936
Cleco Power [Member] | Postretirement plan costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	89,997	93,333
Cleco Power [Member] | Tree trimming costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,292	4,840
Cleco Power [Member] | Training costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	7,097	7,175
Cleco Power [Member] | Surcredits, net [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	15,581	16,738
Cleco Power [Member] | Amended lignite mining agreement contingency [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,781	3,781
Cleco Power [Member] | Power purchase agreement capacity costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	0	9,749
Cleco Power [Member] | AMI deferred revenue requirement [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	6,136	4,682
Cleco Power [Member] | Production O&M expenses [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	8,459	8,459
Cleco Power [Member] | AFUDC equity gross-up [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	73,509	73,306
Cleco Power [Member] | Rate case costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	0	45
Cleco Power [Member] | Acadia Unit 1 acquisition costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	2,707	2,760
Cleco Power [Member] | Financing costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	9,587	9,772
Cleco Power [Member] | Biomass costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	98	114
Cleco Power [Member] | MISO integration costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,743	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Coughlin transaction costs [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	1,076	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Corporate franchise tax [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	3,032	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Acadia FRP true-up [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	754	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Other [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	714	0
Cleco Power [Member] | Fuel and purchased power [Member]
Schedule of Regulatory Assets and Liabilities, Net [Line Items]
Regulatory assets	$ 35,447