Debt, Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 1,375,227us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	$ 1,340,409us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Less: Long-term Debt due within one year	15,824us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent	14,876us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Less: lease obligations classified as long-term debt due within one year	2,448us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	2,305us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent
Unamortized discount	(7,302)	(7,728)
Long-term debt, net	1,349,653	1,315,500
Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,318,227	1,335,409
Less: Long-term Debt due within one year	15,824	14,876
Less: lease obligations classified as long-term debt due within one year	2,448	2,305
Unamortized discount	(7,302)	(7,728)
Long-term debt, net	1,292,653	1,310,500
Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,256,354	1,271,230
Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,256,354	1,271,230
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans Payable to Bank	35,000	35,000
Notes Payable to Banks [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loans Payable to Bank	35,000	35,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations	6,873	9,179
Less: lease obligations classified as long-term debt due within one year	2,500
Capital Lease Obligations [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations	6,873	9,179
Less: lease obligations classified as long-term debt due within one year	2,500
Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	250,000	250,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.65%, due 2018 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	250,000	250,000
Cleco Powers Senior Notes 4.33% due 2027 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Cleco Powers Senior Notes 4.33% due 2027 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	295,000	295,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.50%, due 2035 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	295,000	295,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	250,000	250,000
Cleco Power's senior notes, 6.00%, due 2040 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	250,000	250,000
Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	100,000	100,000
Cleco Power's senior notes 5.12% due 2041 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	100,000	100,000
Series A GO Zone bonds [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Series A GO Zone bonds [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Series B GO Zone bonds [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Series B GO Zone bonds [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000	50,000
Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	60,000	60,000
Cleco Power's solid waste disposal facility bonds, 4.70%, due 2036, callable after November 1, 2016 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	60,000	60,000
Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	33,754	48,630
Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 4.41%, due 2020 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	33,754	48,630
Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	67,600	67,600
Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds, 5.61%, due 2023 [Member] \| Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	67,600	67,600
Cleco Corporation's credit facility [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	57,000	5,000
Cleco Power's credit facility [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	20,000	20,000
Cleco Power's credit facility [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Line of Credit	20,000	20,000
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: Long-term Debt due within one year	15,800
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] \| Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: Long-term Debt due within one year	$ 15,800

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of capital lease obligation due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455314&loc=d3e45023-112735

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant