Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 64,836	$ 44,423
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,255	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	46,924us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	41,500us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Other accounts receivable	24,876us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrent	28,098us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrent
Unbilled revenue	32,041us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	38,475us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesCurrent
Fuel inventory, at average cost	59,076us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventory	64,747us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventory
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	71,321	71,124
Energy risk management assets	2,245	10,776
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	48,725us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	76,785us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent
Accumulated deferred fuel	12,901us-gaap_DeferredFuelCost	21,554us-gaap_DeferredFuelCost
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	73,160	71,167
Prepayments	6,731us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseCurrent	10,284us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseCurrent
Regulatory assets	11,462us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent	12,212us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsCurrent
Other current assets	4,300us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	473us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Total current assets	461,853us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	500,604us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,532,422	4,508,960
Accumulated depreciation	(1,465,504)	(1,442,960)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,066,918	3,066,000
Construction work in progress	101,611	99,458
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,168,529us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3,165,458us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Equity investment in investees	14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Prepayments	5,235us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseNoncurrent	4,891us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseNoncurrent
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,485	15,130
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	235,889	234,370
Regulatory assets	305,471us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent	311,867us-gaap_RegulatoryAssetsNoncurrent
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,490	13,498
Intangible asset	87,264us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	90,642us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Tax credit fund investment, net	6,840cnl_TaxCreditFundInvestmentNetAsset	7,251cnl_TaxCreditFundInvestmentNetAsset
Other deferred charges	19,632us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	20,822us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Total assets	4,334,228us-gaap_Assets	4,379,073us-gaap_Assets
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	53,809	18,272
Accounts payable	81,228us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	127,268us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Customer deposits	54,222us-gaap_CustomerDepositsCurrent	53,411us-gaap_CustomerDepositsCurrent
Provision for rate refund	2,054us-gaap_CustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent	2,264us-gaap_CustomerRefundLiabilityCurrent
Taxes payable	11,769us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	2,197us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent
Interest accrued	23,077us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent	8,669us-gaap_InterestPayableCurrent
Energy risk management liabilities	432	827
Regulatory liability - other	468us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent	312us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityCurrent
Deferred compensation	10,685	11,374
Other current liabilities	16,691us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	13,176us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities	254,435us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	237,770us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	908,427	918,858
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,932	4,161
Postretirement benefit obligations	199,709	197,623
Regulatory liability - other	156us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent	312us-gaap_RegulatoryLiabilityNoncurrent
Restricted storm reserve	15,230cnl_RestrictedStormReserve	14,916cnl_RestrictedStormReserve
Other deferred credits	30,507us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	28,510us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,157,961	1,164,380
Long-term debt, net	1,290,579	1,349,653
Total liabilities	2,702,975us-gaap_Liabilities	2,751,803us-gaap_Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock	61,059us-gaap_CommonStockValue	61,051us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Premium on common stock	414,147	415,482
Retained earnings	1,211,291	1,208,712
Treasury stock, at cost	(23,241)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue	(25,310)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(32,003)	(32,665)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,631,253	1,627,270
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,334,228	4,379,073
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	62,992	39,162
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	3,255	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	46,924	41,500
Accounts receivable - affiliate	10,434	23,621
Other accounts receivable	24,877	27,949
Unbilled revenue	32,041	38,475
Fuel inventory, at average cost	59,076	64,747
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	71,321	71,124
Energy risk management assets	2,245	10,776
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	0	6,725
Accumulated deferred fuel	12,901	21,554
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,765	19,678
Prepayments	5,561	7,283
Regulatory assets	11,462	12,212
Other current assets	3,483	368
Total current assets	366,337	394,160
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,518,778	4,495,490
Accumulated depreciation	(1,455,455)	(1,433,206)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,063,323	3,062,284
Construction work in progress	98,415	96,702
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,161,738	3,158,986
Equity investment in investees	14,532	14,532
Prepayments	5,235	4,891
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,464	15,109
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	235,889	234,370
Regulatory assets	305,471	311,867
Intangible asset	87,264	90,642
Other deferred charges	17,226	18,429
Total assets	4,209,156	4,242,986
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	53,809	18,272
Accounts payable	76,641	116,925
Accounts payable - affiliate	8,070	7,760
Customer deposits	54,222	53,411
Provision for rate refund	2,054	2,264
Taxes payable	14,103	3,115
Interest accrued	23,737	9,224
Energy risk management liabilities	432	827
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	2,886	0
Regulatory liability - other	468	312
Other current liabilities	12,795	9,380
Total current liabilities	249,217	221,490
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	992,400	1,001,332
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,932	4,161
Postretirement benefit obligations	141,912	135,825
Regulatory liability - other	156	312
Restricted storm reserve	15,230	14,916
Other deferred credits	28,301	26,439
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,181,931	1,182,985
Long-term debt, net	1,228,579	1,292,653
Total capitalization	2,778,008	2,838,511
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(17,322)	(17,288)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,549,429	1,545,858
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 4,209,156	$ 4,242,986

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized costs of regulated entities that are not expected to be recovered through revenue sources within one year or the normal operating cycle if longer, and which pertain to the aggregate tax effects as of the balance sheet date of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws; net of deducting the allocated valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such amount to net realizable value.

No definition available.