Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,237	$ 28,656
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,516	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	64,716	50,567
Other accounts receivable	47,191	46,981
Unbilled revenue	47,361	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	64,384	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	66,125	62,811
Energy risk management assets	47,554	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	48,762	94,179
Accumulated deferred fuel	35,447	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	69,365	64,720
Prepayments	8,361	9,204
Regulatory assets	13,532	5,975
Other current assets	22	404
Total current assets	544,573	473,582
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,422,729	4,326,522
Accumulated depreciation	(1,395,839)	(1,351,223)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,026,890	2,975,299
Construction work in progress	112,634	107,841
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,139,524	3,083,140
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540
Prepayments	4,528	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,061	5,033
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	232,673	229,173
Regulatory assets	238,511	249,677
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,511	13,523
Intangible asset	98,433	106,007
Other deferred charges	17,265	23,248
Total assets	4,318,619	4,215,262
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,724	17,182
Accounts payable	169,066	110,544
Customer deposits	51,745	48,456
Provision for rate refund	26,215	3,533
Taxes payable	24,244	18,680
Interest accrued	15,711	12,188
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	4,582	382
Deferred compensation	11,314	11,081
Uncertain tax positions	686	4,610
Other current liabilities	13,700	12,948
Total current liabilities	334,987	243,473
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	853,063	869,150
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,657	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	105,820	103,483
Restricted storm reserve	14,365	17,646
Tax credit fund investment, net	22,515	41,840
Contingent sale obligations	180	900
Other deferred credits	20,316	31,929
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,020,916	1,070,092
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,371,465	1,315,500
Total liabilities	2,727,368	2,629,065
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,051	61,047
Premium on common stock	417,295	422,624
Retained earnings	1,165,125	1,149,003
Treasury stock, at cost	(27,732)	(20,601)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(24,488)	(25,876)
Total shareholders' equity	1,591,251	1,586,197
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,318,619	4,215,262
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	17,898	21,055
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,516	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	64,716	50,567
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,150	1,045
Other accounts receivable	46,994	46,939
Unbilled revenue	47,361	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	64,384	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	66,125	59,964
Energy risk management assets	47,554	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	34,727	80,981
Accumulated deferred fuel	35,447	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,506	19,326
Prepayments	6,374	7,074
Regulatory assets	13,532	5,975
Other current assets	0	388
Total current assets	474,284	403,399
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,407,672	4,052,774
Accumulated depreciation	(1,386,300)	(1,260,843)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,021,372	2,791,931
Construction work in progress	108,636	104,113
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,130,008	2,896,044
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,528	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,040	5,012
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	232,673	229,173
Regulatory assets	238,511	249,677
Intangible asset	98,433	106,007
Other deferred charges	16,560	22,529
Total assets	4,224,569	3,943,712
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	17,724	17,182
Accounts payable	163,492	98,785
Accounts payable - affiliate	6,799	8,386
Customer deposits	51,745	48,456
Provision for rate refund	26,215	3,533
Taxes payable	3,628	6,700
Interest accrued	14,799	13,589
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	4,582	382
Other current liabilities	10,655	9,791
Total current liabilities	299,639	210,673
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	977,394	945,559
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,657	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	54,129	52,953
Restricted storm reserve	14,365	17,646
Other deferred credits	19,449	30,664
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,069,994	1,051,966
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,356,465	1,310,500
Total capitalization	2,854,936	2,681,073
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(14,324)	(15,177)
Total shareholders' equity	1,498,471	1,370,573
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 4,224,569	$ 3,943,712