Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 44,423	$ 28,656
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,986	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	41,500	50,567
Other accounts receivable	28,098	46,981
Unbilled revenue	38,475	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	64,747	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	71,124	62,811
Energy risk management assets	10,776	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	76,785	94,179
Accumulated deferred fuel	21,554	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	71,167	64,720
Prepayments	10,284	9,204
Regulatory assets	12,212	5,975
Other current assets	473	404
Total current assets	500,604	473,582
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,508,960	4,326,522
Accumulated depreciation	(1,442,960)	(1,351,223)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,066,000	2,975,299
Construction work in progress	99,458	107,841
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,165,458	3,083,140
Equity investment in investees	14,540	14,540
Prepayments	4,891	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,130	5,033
Restricted Investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	234,370	229,173
Regulatory assets	311,867	249,677
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,498	13,523
Intangible asset	90,642	106,007
Tax credit fund investment, net	7,251	0
Other deferred charges	20,822	23,248
Total assets	4,379,073	4,215,262
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	18,272	17,182
Accounts payable	127,268	110,544
Customer deposits	53,411	48,456
Provision for rate refund	2,264	3,533
Taxes payable	2,197	18,680
Interest accrued	8,669	12,188
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	827	382
Regulatory liabilities - other	312	0
Deferred compensation	11,374	11,081
Uncertain tax positions	0	4,610
Other current liabilities	13,176	12,948
Total current liabilities	237,770	243,473
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	918,858	869,150
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,161	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	197,623	103,483
Regulatory liabilities - other	312	0
Restricted storm reserve	14,916	17,646
Tax credit fund investment, net	0	41,840
Contingent sale obligations	0	900
Other deferred credits	28,510	31,929
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,164,380	1,070,092
Member's equity	1,627,270	1,586,197
Long-term debt, net	1,349,653	1,315,500
Total liabilities	2,751,803	2,629,065
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
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	4,379,073	4,215,262
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	39,162	21,055
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,986	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	41,500	50,567
Accounts receivable - affiliate	23,621	1,045
Other accounts receivable	27,949	46,939
Unbilled revenue	38,475	31,166
Fuel inventory, at average cost	64,747	60,913
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	71,124	59,964
Energy risk management assets	10,776	9,020
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	6,725	80,981
Accumulated deferred fuel	21,554	0
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,678	19,326
Prepayments	7,283	7,074
Regulatory assets	12,212	5,975
Other current assets	368	388
Total current assets	394,160	403,399
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,495,490	4,052,774
Accumulated depreciation	(1,433,206)	(1,260,843)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,062,284	2,791,931
Construction work in progress	96,702	104,113
Total property, plant and equipment, net	3,158,986	2,896,044
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	4,891	4,510
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,109	5,012
Restricted Investments	0	12,829
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	234,370	229,173
Regulatory assets	311,867	249,677
Intangible asset	90,642	106,007
Other deferred charges	18,429	22,529
Total assets	4,242,986	3,943,712
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	18,272	17,182
Accounts payable	116,925	98,785
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,760	8,386
Customer deposits	53,411	48,456
Provision for rate refund	2,264	3,533
Taxes payable	3,115	6,700
Interest accrued	9,224	13,589
Accumulated deferred fuel	0	3,869
Energy risk management liabilities	827	382
Regulatory liabilities - other	312	0
Other current liabilities	9,380	9,791
Total current liabilities	221,490	210,673
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	1,001,332	945,559
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	4,161	5,144
Postretirement benefit obligations	135,825	52,953
Regulatory liabilities - other	312	0
Restricted storm reserve	14,916	17,646
Other deferred credits	26,439	30,664
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,182,985	1,051,966
Member's equity	1,545,858	1,370,573
Long-term debt, net	1,292,653	1,310,500
Total capitalization	2,838,511	2,681,073
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(17,288)	(15,177)
Total shareholders' equity	1,545,858	1,370,573
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 4,242,986	$ 3,943,712