Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 352,763	$ 314,766	$ 939,519	$ 796,957
Other operations	19,497	14,843	48,878	37,917
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	372,260	329,609	988,397	834,874
Electric customer credits	(874)	(846)	(23,555)	(1,270)
Operating revenue, net	371,386	328,763	964,842	833,604
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	104,463	101,752	220,206	259,728
Power purchased for utility customers	63,024	5,999	197,141	24,795
Other operations	30,992	30,057	87,074	88,420
Maintenance	20,558	20,427	79,173	64,372
Depreciation	37,834	41,756	117,145	110,529
Taxes other than income taxes	7,273	12,007	32,946	34,926
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	(29)	(145)	817
Total operating expenses	264,144	211,969	733,540	583,587
Operating Income (loss)	107,242	116,794	231,302	250,017
Interest income	416	332	1,369	789
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	631	1,303	4,291	2,880
Other income	848	2,837	4,314	12,282
Other expense	(685)	(1,456)	(1,727)	(2,146)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	13,375	19,436	54,767	62,284
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(200)	(422)	(1,259)	(926)
Total interest charges	13,175	19,014	53,508	61,358
Income before income taxes	95,277	100,796	186,041	202,464
Federal and state income tax expense	24,442	34,389	52,649	66,892
Net income	70,835	66,407	133,392	135,572
Net income applicable to common stock	70,835	66,407	133,392	135,572
Average shares of common stock outstanding
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,372,569	60,450,384	60,410,122	60,428,944
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,689,596	60,748,647	60,711,543	60,694,632
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 1.10	$ 2.21	$ 2.25
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 1.09	$ 2.20	$ 2.23
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 0.4000	$ 0.3625	$ 1.1625	$ 1.0625
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	352,763	314,766	939,519	796,957
Other operations	18,957	14,301	47,256	36,366
Affiliate revenue	332	335	998	1,005
Gross operating revenue	372,052	329,402	987,773	834,328
Electric customer credits	(874)	(846)	(23,555)	(1,270)
Operating revenue, net	371,178	328,556	964,218	833,058
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	104,463	101,752	220,206	259,728
Power purchased for utility customers	63,024	18,339	202,608	51,278
Other operations	30,816	28,471	85,279	83,385
Maintenance	19,926	17,478	76,386	55,857
Depreciation	37,518	39,962	115,016	105,251
Taxes other than income taxes	7,128	10,891	31,197	31,554
Total operating expenses	262,875	216,893	730,692	587,053
Operating Income (loss)	108,303	111,663	233,526	246,005
Interest income	398	331	1,349	784
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	631	1,303	4,291	2,880
Other income	476	2,838	1,228	4,606
Other expense	(684)	(2,239)	(1,625)	(3,693)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	14,686	19,078	56,144	61,808
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(200)	(422)	(1,259)	(926)
Total interest charges	14,486	18,656	54,885	60,882
Income before income taxes	94,638	95,240	183,884	189,700
Federal and state income tax expense	29,094	33,355	59,375	65,558
Net income	$ 65,544	$ 61,885	$ 124,509	$ 124,142