Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 276,661	$ 316,997	$ 554,175	$ 586,756
Other operations	15,803	14,568	33,535	29,381
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	292,464	331,565	587,710	616,137
Electric customer credits	(3,390)	(22,495)	(3,179)	(22,681)
Operating revenue, net	289,074	309,070	584,531	593,456
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	84,011	56,696	172,136	115,743
Power purchased for utility customers	34,132	81,393	78,213	134,117
Other operations	31,436	28,727	59,995	55,716
Maintenance	21,436	26,245	40,518	58,615
Depreciation	36,468	37,570	73,746	79,311
Taxes other than income taxes	12,117	11,567	25,589	25,674
Merger transaction costs	(410)	365	1,730	365
Gain on sale of assets	0	(214)	0	(145)
Total operating expenses	219,190	242,349	451,927	469,396
Operating income	69,884	66,721	132,604	124,060
Interest income	90	350	388	952
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	460	2,029	1,537	3,660
Other income	764	2,495	1,409	3,466
Other expense	(695)	(369)	(1,063)	(1,041)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	20,040	20,635	40,483	41,393
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(130)	(570)	(451)	(1,059)
Total interest charges	19,910	20,065	40,032	40,334
Income before income taxes	50,593	51,161	94,843	90,763
Federal and state income tax expense	20,359	14,528	37,687	28,206
Net income	30,234	36,633	57,156	62,557
Net income applicable to common stock	$ 30,234	$ 36,633	$ 57,156	$ 62,557
Average number of basic common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,480,684	60,359,949	60,470,989	60,424,591
Average number of diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,800,806	60,626,135	60,776,735	60,678,026
Basic earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.61	$ 0.95	$ 1.04
Diluted earnings per share
Net income applicable to common stock (in dollars per share)	0.50	0.60	0.94	1.03
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.80	$ 0.7625
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 276,661	$ 316,997	$ 554,175	$ 586,756
Other operations	15,283	14,027	32,495	28,299
Affiliate revenue	331	330	665	665
Gross operating revenue	292,275	331,354	587,335	615,720
Electric customer credits	(3,390)	(22,495)	(3,179)	(22,681)
Operating revenue, net	288,885	308,859	584,156	593,039
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	84,011	56,696	172,136	115,743
Power purchased for utility customers	34,132	81,393	78,213	139,584
Other operations	31,650	29,146	60,130	54,462
Maintenance	21,230	26,203	40,175	56,460
Depreciation	36,126	37,295	73,109	77,498
Taxes other than income taxes	11,493	11,094	24,479	24,069
Merger transaction costs		0
Total operating expenses	218,642	241,827	448,242	467,816
Operating income	70,243	67,032	135,914	125,223
Interest income	48	350	304	951
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	460	2,029	1,537	3,660
Other income	846	389	1,297	752
Other expense	(474)	(432)	(1,062)	(941)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	19,531	21,209	39,755	41,458
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(130)	(570)	(451)	(1,059)
Total interest charges	19,401	20,639	39,304	40,399
Income before income taxes	51,722	48,729	98,686	89,246
Federal and state income tax expense	19,909	16,071	38,268	30,281
Net income	$ 31,813	$ 32,658	$ 60,418	$ 58,965