Fair Value Accounting, Derivatives and Hedging (Details) (USD $)							3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended								1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Energy risk management assets	Dec. 31, 2013 Energy risk management assets	Sep. 30, 2014 Energy risk management liabilities	Dec. 31, 2013 Energy risk management liabilities	Sep. 30, 2014 Electric operations	Sep. 30, 2014 Electric operations	Sep. 30, 2014 Power purchased for utility customers	Sep. 30, 2014 Power purchased for utility customers	Sep. 30, 2014 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] MWh	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] MWh	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Energy risk management assets	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Energy risk management assets	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Energy risk management liabilities	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Energy risk management liabilities	May 30, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	May 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate swap [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Interest rate derivatives [Member] Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Cleco Power [Member] Natural gas derivative [Member] MMBTU	Dec. 31, 2013 Cleco Power [Member] Natural gas derivative [Member] MMBTU
FTRs, at Fair Value, Net [Abstract]
FTRs in Energy risk management asset			$ 18,504,000	$ 9,020,000															$ 18,500,000	$ 9,000,000
FTRs in Energy risk management liability					1,732,000	382,000															1,700,000	400,000
Total FTRs Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, at Fair Value, Net	16,772,000	8,638,000
FTRs [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on FTRs Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Recognized in Income							27,618,000	52,946,000	(20,122,000)	(30,871,000)
Net gain (loss) on FTRs recognized in income											7,496,000	22,075,000
Number of open natural gas positions																											0	0
Number of FTRs Held																	16,800,000	6,800,000
Fixed-Rate forecasted debt issuance																								50,000,000
Remaining maturity of derivative																								30 years
Interest rate on derivative																								3.05%
Gain (Loss) on the settlement of forward starting interest rate derivative																									(3,300,000)
Gain (Loss) deferred as a regulatory asset on settlement of forward starting interest rate derivative																									(2,900,000)
Gain (loss) on forward starting interest rate swap remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)																									(400,000)
Amortization period of loss on settlement of the forward starting interest rate derivative																							25 years
Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)													0	0	0	1,762,000
Gain (Loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income, effective portion													(86,000)	(86,000)	(258,000)	(165,000)
Net hedge ineffectiveness gain (loss)																(3,300,000)
Effective portion of deferred net gain (loss) to interest rate derivatives to be reclassified from accum OCI to interest charges during the next 12 months																										$ (300,000)