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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]            
Current: $ 8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue       $ 8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Non-current total 15,130,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent 5,033,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent       15,130,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents 24,116,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents 14,019,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents       24,116,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash 10,097,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash (201,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash (21,607,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash      
Katrina/Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash 20,600,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitacollectionsMember
         
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash       (7,300,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondPrincipalPaymentsMemberMember
(7,600,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondPrincipalPaymentsMemberMember
 
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash       (2,700,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondInterestPaymentsMemberMember
(3,000,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondInterestPaymentsMemberMember
 
Diversified Lands Mitigation Escrow Agreement [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]            
Non-current total 21,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowAgreementMember
21,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowAgreementMember
      21,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowAgreementMember
Future Storm Restoration Costs [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]            
Non-current total 14,915,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
4,726,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
      14,915,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
Building Renovations Escrow [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]            
Non-current total 194,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
286,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
      194,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
Cleco Power [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]            
Current: 8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
      8,986,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Non-current total 15,109,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
5,012,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
      15,109,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash 10,097,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
(125,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
(21,607,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
     
Cleco Power [Member] | Future Storm Restoration Costs [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash 10,200,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
         
Transfer of restricted investments to restricted cash 13,200,000cnl_Transferofrestrictedinvestmentstorestrictedcash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
         
Collections of surcredits to replenish storm reserve 1,000,000cnl_IncreaseInRestrictedCashDueToCollections
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
         
Transfer of restricted cash to cover storm expenses 4,000,000cnl_Transferofrestrictedcashtocoverstormexpenses
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
         
Cleco Power [Member] | Building Renovations Escrow [Member]            
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]            
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash           $ (700,000)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember