Affiliate Transactions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Due from (to) related parties	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0
Affiliate revenue									0	0	0
Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Affiliate revenue									1,326,000	1,338,000	1,372,000
Other income from related parties									73,000	157,000	40,000
Total Affiliate Revenue									1,399,000	1,495,000	1,412,000
Accounts receivable - affiliate	23,621,000				1,045,000				23,621,000	1,045,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,760,000				8,386,000				7,760,000	8,386,000
Distribution to parent	(30,000,000)	(15,000,000)	(35,000,000)	(35,000,000)	(30,000,000)	(50,000,000)	(25,000,000)	0	(115,000,000)	(105,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Non-cash equity contributions from parent									138,100,000	0	0
Transfer of pension plan liability and an equal amount of assets									1,687,000	2,481,000
Cleco Corporation [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Other income from related parties									30,000	26,000	0
Accounts receivable - affiliate	22,994,000				379,000				22,994,000	379,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	525,000				389,000				525,000	389,000
Distribution to parent									(115,000,000)	(105,000,000)	(58,000,000)
Support Group [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Affiliate revenue									1,322,000	1,318,000	1,335,000
Other income from related parties									10,000	0	0
Accounts receivable - affiliate	626,000				634,000				626,000	634,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,235,000				5,972,000				7,235,000	5,972,000
Transfer of pension plan liability and an equal amount of assets									1,638,000	2,193,000
Midstream [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Affiliate revenue									0	0	14,000
Transfer of pension plan liability and an equal amount of assets									49,000	288,000
Evangeline [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Affiliate revenue									4,000	20,000	23,000
Other income from related parties									9,000	68,000	11,000
Accounts receivable - affiliate	0				4,000				0	4,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	0				2,024,000				0	2,024,000
Diversified Lands [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Other income from related parties									14,000	45,000	17,000
Perryville [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Other income from related parties									5,000	10,000	6,000
Attala [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Other income from related parties									5,000	8,000	6,000
Others [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	1,000				28,000				1,000	28,000
Accounts payable - affiliate	0				1,000				0	1,000
Other Operations [Member] | Support Group [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									50,801,000	48,694,000	43,171,000
Maintenance [Member] | Support Group [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									2,091,000	1,263,000	1,437,000
Taxes other than income taxes [Member] | Support Group [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									(9,000)	(6,000)	(54,000)
Other Expense [Member] | Support Group [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									339,000	306,000	932,000
Other Expense [Member] | Evangeline [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									0	42,000	0
Other Expense [Member] | Diversified Lands [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									0	3,000	0
Power purchased for utility customers [Member] | Evangeline [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Affiliate Transaction [Line Items]
Expenses from transactions with related parties									$ 5,467,000	$ 31,670,000	$ 25,559,000