Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2015	$ 10,261,000
2016	9,646,000
2017	7,811,000
2018	3,882,000
2019	3,563,000
Thereafter	8,375,000
Total operating lease payments	43,538,000
Cleco Power [Member]
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2015	9,952,000
2016	9,339,000
2017	7,504,000
2018	3,577,000
2019	3,563,000
Thereafter	8,375,000
Total operating lease payments	42,310,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of vehicle lease vendors	2
Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	400,000	600,000	1,000,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Railcars Group 1 [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Number of railcars	115
Cleco Power [Member] | Railcars Group 2 [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Number of railcars	116
Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	400,000	400,000	400,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	300,000	300,000	300,000
Cleco Power [Member] | Railroad Transportation Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,100,000
Number of groups of railcar leases	2
Cleco Power [Member] | 483211 Inland Water Freight Transportation [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	4,700,000	4,700,000	5,600,000
Annual percentage increase to towboat lease	3.00%
Cleco Corporation [Member]
Expected operating lease payments [Abstract]
2015	309,000
2016	307,000
2017	307,000
2018	305,000
2019	0
Thereafter	0
Total operating lease payments	1,228,000
Cleco Corporation [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating leases, additional disclosures [Abstract]
Lease expenses recognized	$ 300,000	$ 100,000	$ 100,000
Minimum [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	1 year
Minimum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Vehicles, Office and Operating Facilities, and Office Equipment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction and Maintenance Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	6 years
Maximum [Member] | Cleco Power [Member] | Line Construction, Maintenance, and Service Vehicles [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Term of operating lease (in years)	7 years