Schedule I Financial Statements of Cleco Corporation, Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income tax benefit	$ 67,116,000	$ 79,575,000	$ 65,327,000
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income tax benefit	(9,972,000)	(7,270,000)	(9,676,000)
Income tax expense reflected in equity income of subsidiaries, net of tax	$ 77,100,000	$ 86,800,000	$ 75,000,000