Income Taxes, Net Operating Losses & Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2013
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	$ 0	$ 88,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Expense	0	154,000	(9,223,000)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	0	2,193,000	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	0	248,000	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	5,071,000	0	53,109,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	0	5,071,000	3,126,000	56,235,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	0	11,000
Customer Surcredits	5,200,000	8,400,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Expense	0	11,000	(11,648,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Interest Charges Recoverable from Customers	0	3,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	0	248,000	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decrease Resulting from Settlements with Taxing Authorities	0	0	52,310,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Reduction Resulting from Lapse of Applicable Statute of Limitations	0	0	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	0	0	248,000	52,558,000
Federal [Member]
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards	303,900,000
Deposits with IRS			60,400,000
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority					$ (42,300,000)