Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 11,210	$ 28,656
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,471	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	62,995	50,567
Other accounts receivable	41,629	46,981
Unbilled revenue	49,410	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	56,278	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	66,941	62,811
Energy risk management assets	18,504	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	37,899	94,179
Accumulated deferred fuel	40,217	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	70,405	64,720
Prepayments	8,141	9,204
Regulatory assets	12,962	5,975
Other current assets	24	404
Total current assets	480,086	473,582
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,444,893	4,326,522
Accumulated depreciation	(1,419,001)	(1,351,223)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,025,892	2,975,299
Construction work in progress	118,351	107,841
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,144,243	3,083,140
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540
Prepayments	4,517	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,537	5,033
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	236,622	229,173
Regulatory assets	234,082	249,677
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,505	13,523
Intangible asset	93,826	106,007
Other deferred charges	19,356	23,248
Total assets	4,256,314	4,215,262
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	18,236	17,182
Accounts payable	120,675	110,544
Customer deposits	52,745	48,456
Provision for rate refund	2,289	3,533
Taxes payable	24,178	18,680
Interest accrued	21,570	12,188
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	1,732	382
Deferred compensation	10,895	11,081
Uncertain tax positions	0	4,610
Other current liabilities	15,068	12,948
Total current liabilities	267,388	243,473
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	874,919	869,150
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,409	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	107,272	103,483
Restricted storm reserve	14,707	17,646
Tax credit fund investment, net	9,379	41,840
Contingent sale obligations	0	900
Other deferred credits	19,191	31,929
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,029,877	1,070,092
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,320,178	1,315,500
Total liabilities	2,617,443	2,629,065
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock	61,051	61,047
Premium on common stock	417,356	422,624
Retained earnings	1,211,651	1,149,003
Treasury stock, at cost	(27,070)	(20,601)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(24,117)	(25,876)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,638,871	1,586,197
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,256,314	4,215,262
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	7,400	21,055
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,471	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	62,995	50,567
Accounts receivable - affiliate	23,498	1,045
Other accounts receivable	41,441	46,939
Unbilled revenue	49,410	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	56,278	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	66,941	59,964
Energy risk management assets	18,504	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	0	80,981
Accumulated deferred fuel	40,217	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,591	19,326
Prepayments	6,988	7,074
Regulatory assets	12,962	5,975
Other current assets	0	388
Total current assets	409,696	403,399
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,429,881	4,052,774
Accumulated depreciation	(1,409,364)	(1,260,843)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,020,517	2,791,931
Construction work in progress	115,427	104,113
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,135,944	2,896,044
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,517	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,516	5,012
Restricted investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	236,622	229,173
Regulatory assets	234,082	249,677
Intangible asset	93,826	106,007
Other deferred charges	16,661	22,529
Total assets	4,161,396	3,943,712
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	18,236	17,182
Accounts payable	113,508	98,785
Accounts payable - affiliate	8,089	8,386
Customer deposits	52,745	48,456
Provision for rate refund	2,289	3,533
Taxes payable	23,918	6,700
Interest accrued	22,173	13,589
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	1,732	382
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	6,552	0
Other current liabilities	11,709	9,791
Total current liabilities	260,951	210,673
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	975,726	945,559
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,409	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	54,980	52,953
Restricted storm reserve	14,707	17,646
Other deferred credits	18,285	30,664
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,068,107	1,051,966
Capitalization
Long-term debt, net	1,283,178	1,310,500
Total capitalization	2,832,338	2,681,073
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(14,179)	(15,177)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,549,160	1,370,573
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 4,161,396	$ 3,943,712