Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Litigation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Litigation Matters [Member]	May 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] resident	Mar. 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] customer	Jan. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member] City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] claim	Sep. 30, 2014 Judicial Ruling [Member] Discrimination Complaint [Member] plaintiff	Dec. 31, 2009 Judicial Ruling [Member] Minimum [Member] Discrimination Complaint [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Pending Litigation [Member] Discrimination Complaint [Member] plaintiff	Jul. 31, 2010 Pending Litigation [Member] Minimum [Member] Discrimination Complaint [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss contingency, damages sought, minimum amount			$ 30.0			$ 35.0		$ 2.5
Loss contingency, number of plaintiffs (in ones)		249	3		11		1
Number of class action law suits (in ones)				2
Amount of estimated possible loss	$ 7.4