Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	$ 14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments		$ 14,540us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	14,532		14,532
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Current assets	2,891		2,792
Total assets	30,029		29,096
Current liabilities	964		31
Partners’ capital	29,065		29,065
Total liabilities and partners’ capital	30,029		29,096
Operating revenue	854	585
Operating expenses	854	585
Income before taxes	0	0
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] \| Property, plant, and equipment, net [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Other assets	22,410		22,457
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Other assets	4,728		3,847
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] \| Cleco Power [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest entity, ownership percentage (in hundredths)	50.00%
Ownership percentage by other parties (in hundredths)	50.00%
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Purchase price	12,873		12,873
Cash contributions	1,659		1,659
Total equity investment in investee	14,532		14,532
Comparison of carrying amount of assets and liabilities to maximum loss exposure [Abstract]
Cleco Power’s 50% equity	14,532		14,532
Cleco Power’s maximum exposure to loss	14,532		14,532
Summarized financial information [Abstract]
Partners’ capital	29,065		29,065
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] \| Diversified Lands [Member]
Components of equity method investments [Abstract]
Total equity investment in investee	$ 100

Cash contributed to the investee accounted for as an equity method investment, from inception to date.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by other parties.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 12

-Article 5

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 323

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-Section 45

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- Definition

The amount of assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(g))

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-Publisher SEC

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Publisher SEC

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+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The amount of the cost of sales reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of current assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of current liabilities reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of equity, excluding noncontrolling interest, attributable to the equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of liabilities and equity reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of noncurrent assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Net carrying amount of the assets and liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), when the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5A

-Subparagraph (d)

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