Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow	Dec. 31, 2013 Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds	Mar. 31, 2014 Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Katrina/Rita’s storm recovery bonds	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power’s building renovation escrow	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power’s building renovation escrow	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Cleco Power [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,008,000		$ 14,019,000	$ 21,000	$ 21,000	$ 3,471,000		$ 3,471,000	$ 8,986,000	$ 14,706,000	$ 4,726,000	$ 810,000	$ 286,000
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Cleco Katrina/Rita Storm Recover Bond Variance [Abstract]
Restricted cash collected by Cleco Katrina/Rita, net of administration fees								15,100,000
Restricted cash used by Cleco Katrina/Rita for bond principal payments						7,300,000	7,600,000
Restricted cash used by Cleco Katrina/Rita for bond interest payments						2,700,000	3,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Future Storm Restoration Costs[Abstract]
Increase in cash and cash equivalents held for future storm restoration costs	4,989,000	(5,750,000)												4,989,000	(5,750,000)	10,000,000
Transfer of restricted investments to restricted cash																13,200,000
Transfer of restricted cash to cover storm expenses																$ 4,000,000