Debt, Credit Facilities (Details) (Credit Facility [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, borrowings outstanding	$ 37.0
Credit facility, current borrowing capacity	250.0
Credit Facility, Facility Fees Percentage (in hundredths)	0.175%
Cleco Power [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, borrowings outstanding	10.0
Credit facility, current borrowing capacity	300.0
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		$ 2.0	$ 1.0
Credit Facility, Facility Fees Percentage (in hundredths)	0.10%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Cleco Corporation [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, all-in interest rate (in hundredths)	1.235%
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	1.075%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, all-in interest rate (in hundredths)	1.02%
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	0.90%
ABR [Member] | Cleco Corporation [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit facility, Basis Spread on Variable Rate (in hundredths)	0.075%