Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Litigation (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2009	Jul. 31, 2010	May 31, 2010 resident	Mar. 31, 2010 customer	Nov. 30, 2014	Feb. 28, 2012	Mar. 31, 2009	Jan. 31, 2011 claim
Cleco Power [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Fuel expenses included in audit							$ 1,730,000,000		$ 3,260,000,000
Cost disallowance in audit, excluding interest								400,000
Customer fuel credit refund, excluding interest	400,000
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Member] | MISO Transmission Rates [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Public Utilities, Approved Return on Equity, Percentage		12.38%
Public Utilities, Proposed Return on Equity, Percentage		9.15%
Discrimiation Complaint [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs		1
Discrimiation Complaint [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value			35,000,000
Discrimiation Complaint [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value				2,500,000
City of Opelousas Litigation [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value						30,000,000
Loss Contingency, Number of Plaintiffs					249	3
Loss contingency, number of class action lawsuits										2
Other Litigation Matters [Member]
Litigation [Abstract]
Accrual for various litigation matters		9,700,000