Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,225,960	$ 1,047,548	$ 944,169
Other operations	67,055	51,002	50,158
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	1,293,015	1,098,550	994,327
Electric customer credits	(23,530)	(1,836)	(630)
Operating revenue, net	1,269,485	1,096,714	993,697
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	322,696	329,874	280,553
Power purchased for utility customers	242,219	45,292	53,134
Other operations	117,369	121,646	120,898
Maintenance	98,999	97,441	86,488
Depreciation	146,505	142,860	132,407
Taxes other than income taxes	43,924	50,469	38,515
Merger transaction costs	17,848	0	0
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(6,107)	800	51
Total operating expenses	983,453	788,382	712,046
Operating income (loss)	286,032	308,332	281,651
Interest income	1,768	1,105	346
Allowance for other funds used during construction	5,380	4,081	6,711
Other income	4,790	13,857	29,117
Other expense	(2,509)	(2,861)	(4,694)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	75,186	85,570	86,448
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(1,580)	(1,316)	(2,292)
Total interest charges	73,606	84,254	84,156
Income before income taxes	221,855	240,260	228,975
Federal and state income tax expense	67,116	79,575	65,327
Net income	154,739	160,685	163,648
Net income applicable to common stock	154,739	160,685	163,648
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,406,001	60,434,510	60,370,588
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,601,458	60,720,090	60,628,129
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.56	$ 2.66	$ 2.71
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.55	$ 2.65	$ 2.70
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	1,225,960	1,047,548	944,169
Other operations	64,893	48,909	48,156
Affiliate revenue	1,326	1,338	1,372
Gross operating revenue	1,292,179	1,097,795	993,697
Electric customer credits	(23,530)	(1,836)	(630)
Operating revenue, net	1,268,649	1,095,959	993,067
Operating expenses
Fuel used for electric generation	322,696	329,874	280,249
Power purchased for utility customers	247,686	76,962	78,683
Other operations	116,664	114,884	115,072
Maintenance	96,054	85,638	72,386
Depreciation	144,026	135,717	125,486
Taxes other than income taxes	41,812	46,203	33,999
(Gain) loss on sales of assets	(4)	0	(2)
Total operating expenses	968,934	789,278	705,873
Operating income (loss)	299,715	306,681	287,194
Interest income	1,707	1,100	333
Allowance for other funds used during construction	5,380	4,081	6,711
Other income	1,483	4,883	5,847
Other expense	(2,322)	(4,277)	(4,602)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	76,253	83,993	82,794
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(1,580)	(1,316)	(2,292)
Total interest charges	74,673	82,677	80,502
Income before income taxes	231,290	229,791	214,981
Federal and state income tax expense	76,974	79,381	68,133
Net income	$ 154,316	$ 150,410	$ 146,848