Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Off-Balance Sheet Commitments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Attala [Member] Parent Company [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Mississippi on behalf of Attala [Member]	Jan. 31, 2006 Attala [Member] Parent Company [Member] Guarantee Issued to Entergy Mississippi on behalf of Attala [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 MISO [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Apr. 08, 2014 MISO [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 MISO [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Louisiana Department of Labor [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Obligations Under Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Mar. 15, 2014 Evangeline [Member] Transfer of assets from affiliate [Member] Indemnification Agreement [Member]	Mar. 15, 2014 Evangeline [Member] Transfer of assets from affiliate [Member] Indemnification Agreement INCLUDING fundamental organizational structure [Member]	Mar. 15, 2014 Evangeline [Member] Transfer of assets from affiliate [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Indemnification Agreement [Member]	Mar. 15, 2014 Evangeline [Member] Transfer of assets from affiliate [Member] Cleco Power [Member] Indemnification Agreement INCLUDING fundamental organizational structure [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Off-balance sheet commitments [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 500	$ 500	$ 2,000	$ 2,000	$ 1,000	$ 3,725	$ 40,000	$ 400,000	$ 40,000	$ 400,000	$ 6,225
Percentage of average losses on which letter of credit is based (in hundredths)	110.00%