Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Condensed Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 44,423	$ 28,656	$ 31,020	$ 93,576
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	76,785	94,179
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	71,167	64,720
Prepayments	10,284	9,204
Other current assets	473	404
Total current assets	500,604	473,582
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540	14,540
Tax credit fund investment, net	7,251	0
Other deferred charges	20,822	23,248
Total assets	4,379,073	4,215,262	4,147,349
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	127,268	110,544
Taxes payable, net	2,197	18,680
Interest accrued	8,669	12,188
Other current liabilities	13,176	12,948
Total current liabilities	237,770	243,473
Tax credit fund investment, net	0	41,840
Postretirement benefit obligations	197,623	103,483
Other deferred credits	28,510	31,929
Total liabilities	2,751,803	2,629,065
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,051	61,047
Premium on common stock	415,482	422,624
Retained earnings	1,208,712	1,149,003
Treasury stock	(25,310)	(20,601)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,665)	(25,876)	(32,370)	(28,139)
Total shareholders' equity	1,627,270	1,586,197	1,499,213	1,419,857
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	4,379,073	4,215,262
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	5,069	7,375	7,418	22,642
Accounts receivable - affiliate	8,967	9,549
Taxes receivable, net	2,288	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	72,270	7,330
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	51,489	45,394
Prepayments	1,229	0
Interest receivable	555	0
Other current assets	12	0
Total current assets	141,879	69,648
Equity investment in investees	1,549,063	1,553,543
Tax credit fund investment, net	7,251	0
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	71,397	102,255
Other deferred charges	611	719
Total assets	1,770,201	1,726,165
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	4,386	3,218
Accounts payable - affiliate	59,014	60,590
Taxes payable, net	0	17,161
Interest accrued	0	38
Other current liabilities	12,123	11,081
Total current liabilities	75,523	92,088
Tax credit fund investment, net	0	41,840
Postretirement benefit obligations	8,337	0
Other deferred credits	2,071	1,040
Long-term debt	57,000	5,000
Total liabilities	142,931	139,968
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
Common shareholders' equity
Common stock	61,051	61,047
Premium on common stock	415,482	422,624
Retained earnings	1,208,712	1,149,003
Treasury stock	(25,310)	(20,601)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,665)	(25,876)
Total shareholders' equity	1,627,270	1,586,197
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,770,201	$ 1,726,165