Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Fuel Transportation Agreement and Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012 barge
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	$ 2,448,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	$ 2,305,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Cleco Power [Member]
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	2,448,000	2,305,000
Cleco Power [Member] \| Barges [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Capital Leased Assets, Number of Units			42
Fuel Transportation Agreement [Abstract]
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	3,700,000	3,700,000
Analysis of leased property under capital leases by major classes [Abstract]
Barges	6,486,000	8,918,000
Less: accumulated amortization	2,306,000	2,171,000
Net capital leases	4,180,000	6,747,000
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2015	3,725,000
2016	3,735,000
2017	2,480,000
Total minimum lease payments	9,940,000
Less: executory costs	2,485,000
Net minimum lease payments	7,455,000
Less: amount representing interest	582,000
Present value of net minimum lease payments	6,873,000
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	2,448,000
Non-current liabilities	4,425,000
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Sublease Revenue	$ 400,000	$ 0

Amount before accumulated depreciation of leased physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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The number of units (items of property) under capital lease arrangements.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of capital lease obligation due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

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-SubTopic 10

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

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Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid more than one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) after the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

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The total gross amount less the charge for the use of the long-lived depreciable assets subject to a lease meeting the criteria for capitalization.

+ References

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Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases.

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Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

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Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

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Amounts to be paid by lessee to lessor for maintenance, insurance, and tax expenses related to the leased asset.

+ References

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Amount necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to present value for capital leases.

+ References

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Amount of minimum lease payments for capital leases net of executory costs, which include amounts paid by the lessee to the lessor for insurance, maintenance and taxes.

+ References

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Present value of minimum lease payments for capital leases net of executory costs, including amounts paid by the lessee to the lessor for insurance, maintenance and taxes.

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The total charge for the use of long-lived depreciable assets subject to a lease meeting the criteria for capitalization.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The amount of revenue recognized for the period under subleasing arrangements.

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The cash outflow for the obligation for a lease meeting the criteria for capitalization (with maturities exceeding one year or beyond the operating cycle of the entity, if longer).

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