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Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
Debt, Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt Outstanding	$ 1,340,000,000
Long-term debt due within one year	53,809,000		18,272,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(23,500,000)
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for long term debt due within one year	35,000,000
Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	15,000,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital lease payments due within one year	2,500,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(500,000)
Debt Discount Amortization [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	100,000
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds principal payment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for long term debt due within one year	16,300,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(8,100,000)
Cleco Power [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt Outstanding	1,280,000,000
Long-term debt due within one year	53,809,000		18,272,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(28,500,000)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for long term debt due within one year	35,000,000
Cleco Power [Member] \| Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(20,000,000)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital lease payments due within one year	2,500,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(500,000)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Debt Discount Amortization [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	100,000
Cleco Power [Member] \| Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds [Member] \| Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds principal payment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal payments for long term debt due within one year	16,300,000
Increase (decrease) in debt instrument, net	(8,100,000)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Cleco Power's senior notes, 4.95%, due 2015 [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000,000
Cleco Power [Member] \| Series A GO Zone bonds [Member] \| Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured Debt	50,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member] \| Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding bank term loan repayment		$ 35,000,000