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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]        
Current $ 3,255us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue   $ 3,255us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 8,986us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Non-current total 15,485us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent   15,485us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent 15,130us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents 18,740us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents   18,740us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents 24,116us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds        
Increase (decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds (5,377)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash 4,367us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash    
Katrina Rita collections        
Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds        
Increase (decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds 5,000us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitacollectionsMember
     
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments        
Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds        
Increase (decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds     (8,100)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondPrincipalPaymentsMemberMember
 
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow        
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]        
Non-current total 21us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowMember
  21us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowMember
21us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_DiversifiedLandsMitigationEscrowMember
Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs        
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]        
Non-current total 15,228us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
  15,228us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
14,915us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_FutureStormRestorationCostsMember
Cleco Power’s building renovation escrow        
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]        
Non-current total 236us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
  236us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
194us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_BuildingRenovationsEscrowMember
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments        
Cleco Katrina/Rita storm recovery bonds        
Increase (decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds     $ (2,600)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= cnl_KatrinaRitaBondInterestPaymentsMemberMember