Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating activities
Net income	$ 133,392	$ 135,572
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	124,515	120,792
Unearned compensation expense	4,974	4,707
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(4,291)	(2,880)
Net deferred income taxes	51,584	60,172
Deferred fuel costs	(23,908)	2,906
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance	(2,854)	(1,631)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(19,666)	(30,167)
Unbilled revenue	(18,245)	(4,967)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	505	(5,595)
Prepayments	2,544	(233)
Accounts payable	(14,767)	(15,691)
Customer deposits	11,979	9,777
Postretirement benefit obligations	6,501	(26,968)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(2,881)	(28,727)
Other deferred accounts	(17,006)	(7,480)
Taxes accrued	969	70,188
Interest accrued	9,381	11,793
Other operating	2,830	(1,903)
Net cash provided by operating activities	245,556	289,665
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(160,181)	(131,521)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	4,291	2,880
Return of investment in company-owned life insurance	1,303	0
Premiums paid on company-/trust-owned life insurance	(2,831)	(3,705)
Return of equity investment in tax credit fund	1,541	473
Contributions to tax credit fund	(36,252)	(38,940)
Transfer of cash (to) from restricted accounts	(4,989)	5,750
Purchase of restricted investments	0	(6,422)
Sale of restricted investments	11,138	0
Maturity of restricted investments	1,458	5,003
Other investing	(413)	1,671
Net cash used in investing activities	(184,935)	(164,811)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	189,000	198,000
Payments on credit facility	(167,000)	(223,000)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	160,000
Retirement of long-term debt	(14,876)	(113,969)
Repurchase of long-term debt	0	(60,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(12,449)	0
Settlement of interest rate swap	0	(3,269)
Dividends paid on common stock	(70,879)	(64,448)
Other financing	(1,863)	(2,388)
Net cash used in financing activities	(78,067)	(109,074)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(17,446)	15,780
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	28,656	31,020
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	11,210	46,800
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	42,536	45,464
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	15,321	(47,318)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	10,777	12,869
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment, net	0	1,280
Issuance of common stock – ESPP	220	240
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	124,509	124,142
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	120,950	114,078
Unearned compensation expense	1,461	1,204
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	(4,291)	(2,880)
Net deferred income taxes	66,426	70,864
Deferred fuel costs	(23,908)	2,906
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(19,492)	(30,125)
Unbilled revenue	(18,245)	(4,967)
Fuel, materials and supplies inventory	538	(5,500)
Prepayments	1,736	29
Accounts payable	(10,656)	(12,296)
Customer deposits	11,979	9,777
Postretirement benefit obligations	3,594	(29,784)
Regulatory assets and liabilities, net	(2,881)	(28,727)
Other deferred accounts	(12,341)	(10,143)
Taxes accrued	(5,139)	20,043
Interest accrued	8,584	12,182
Other operating	787	1,194
Net cash provided by operating activities	243,611	231,997
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(159,320)	(126,977)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	4,291	2,880
Return of investment in company-owned life insurance	1,303	0
Transfer of cash (to) from restricted accounts	(4,989)	5,750
Purchase of restricted investments	0	(6,422)
Sale of restricted investments	11,138	0
Maturity of restricted investments	1,458	5,003
Other investing	587	1,586
Net cash used in investing activities	(145,532)	(118,180)
Financing activities
Draws on credit facility	122,000	160,000
Payments on credit facility	(132,000)	(160,000)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	160,000
Retirement of long-term debt	(14,876)	(113,969)
Repurchase of long-term debt	0	(60,000)
Settlement of interest rate swap	0	(3,269)
Distribution to parent	(85,000)	(75,000)
Other financing	(1,858)	(2,387)
Net cash used in financing activities	(111,734)	(94,625)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(13,655)	19,192
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	21,055	23,368
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,400	42,560
Supplementary cash flow information
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	42,467	45,248
Income taxes paid (refunded), net	257	(456)
Supplementary non-cash investing and financing activities
Accrued additions to property, plant, and equipment	10,720	12,591
Non-cash additions to property, plant, and equipment, net	$ 176,244	$ 1,280