Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	$ 14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	$ 14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	$ 14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets	2,792	2,289
Total assets	29,096	29,156
Current liabilities	31	91
Partners' capital	29,065	29,065
Total liabilities and partners' capital	29,096	29,156
Operating revenue	2,248	2,558	1,126
Operating expenses	2,248	2,558	1,126
Income before taxes	0	0	0
Property, plant, and equipment, net [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Other assets	22,457	22,611
Other Assets [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Other assets	3,847	4,256
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	14,532	14,532
Cleco Power [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%
Ownership percentage by other parties (in hundredths)	50.00%
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873	12,873
Cash contributions	1,659	1,659
Total equity investment in investee	14,532	14,532
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Cleco Power's 50% equity	14,532	14,532
Cleco Power's maximum exposure to loss	14,532	14,532
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Partners' capital	29,065	29,065
Diversified Lands [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	$ 100

Cash contributed to the investee accounted for as an equity method investment, from inception to date.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by other parties.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

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

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The amount of assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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- Definition

The amount of the cost of sales reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of current assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of current liabilities reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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- Definition

Amount of equity, excluding noncontrolling interest, attributable to the equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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- Definition

The amount of liabilities and equity reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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- Definition

The amount of noncurrent assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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- Definition

The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

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- Definition

Net carrying amount of the assets and liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), when the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

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