Disclosures about Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 entity	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries	2
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 277,514	$ 269,759
Tolling operations		0
Other operations	17,732	14,814
Electric customer credits	211	(186)
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Operating revenue, net	295,457	284,387
Depreciation	37,278	41,741
Merger transaction costs	2,140	0
Interest charges	20,122	20,268
Interest income	297	602
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	17,328	13,678
Net Income (loss)	26,922	25,924
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	36,297	47,139
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		58,056
Equity investment in investees	14,540		14,540
Total segment assets	4,334,228		4,379,073
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	277,514	269,759
Tolling operations		0
Other operations	17,213	14,272
Electric customer credits	211	(186)
Affiliate revenue	333	335
Operating revenue, net	295,271	284,180
Depreciation	36,983	40,203
Merger transaction costs	0
Interest charges	19,902	19,758
Interest income	256	602
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	18,359	14,210
Net Income (loss)	28,605	26,307
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	36,232
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		234,153
Equity investment in investees	14,532		14,532
Total segment assets	4,209,156		4,242,986
Operating Segments [Member] | Midstream [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations		0
Tolling operations		5,467
Other operations		0
Electric customer credits		0
Affiliate revenue		0
Operating revenue, net		5,467
Depreciation		1,269
Interest charges		13
Interest income		0
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)		(81)
Net Income (loss)		(130)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(176,293)
Equity investment in investees			0
Total segment assets			0
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Tolling operations		0
Other operations	520	541
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	12,804	13,192
Operating revenue, net	13,324	13,733
Depreciation	295	269
Merger transaction costs	2,140
Interest charges	115	362
Interest income	(63)	(133)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(1,030)	(451)
Net Income (loss)	(1,684)	(252)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	65
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		196
Equity investment in investees	8		8
Total segment assets	202,319		248,654
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue
Electric operations	0	0
Tolling operations		(5,467)
Other operations	(1)	1
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(13,137)	(13,527)
Operating revenue, net	(13,138)	(18,993)
Depreciation	0	0
Merger transaction costs	0
Interest charges	105	135
Interest income	104	133
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(1)	0
Net Income (loss)	1	(1)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		0
Equity investment in investees	0		0
Total segment assets	$ (77,247)		$ (112,567)