Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	$ (32,665)	$ (25,876)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	609	844
Net current-period other comprehensive income	662	897
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(32,003)	(24,979)
Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(26,726)	(19,725)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	609	844
Net current-period other comprehensive income	609	844
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(26,117)	(18,881)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(5,939)	(6,151)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(5,886)	(6,098)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(17,288)	(15,177)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(87)	525
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(34)	578
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(17,322)	(14,599)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Cleco Power [Member] \| Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(11,349)	(9,026)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	(87)	525
Net current-period other comprehensive income	(87)	525
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(11,436)	(8,501)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Beginning Balance	(5,939)	(6,151)
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Ending Balance	(5,886)	(6,098)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 53	$ 53

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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