Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,429	$ 44,423
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,342	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	49,442	41,500
Other accounts receivable	20,319	28,098
Unbilled revenue	43,341	38,475
Fuel inventory, at average cost	56,921	64,747
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	73,977	71,124
Energy risk management assets	22,480	10,776
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	66,386	76,785
Accumulated deferred fuel	9,087	21,554
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	72,845	71,167
Prepayments	8,978	10,284
Regulatory assets	15,002	12,212
Other current assets	1,262	473
Total current assets	470,811	500,604
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,548,451	4,508,960
Accumulated depreciation	(1,489,864)	(1,442,960)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,058,587	3,066,000
Construction work in progress	118,364	99,458
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,176,951	3,165,458
Equity investment in investees	15,380	14,540
Prepayments	4,965	4,891
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,815	15,130
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	236,742	234,370
Regulatory assets	295,280	311,867
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,482	13,498
Intangible asset	83,048	90,642
Tax credit fund investment, net	6,336	7,251
Other deferred charges	23,204	20,822
Total assets	4,342,014	4,379,073
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	43,847	18,272
Accounts payable	96,316	127,268
Customer deposits	54,587	53,411
Provision for rate refund	5,444	2,264
Taxes payable	20,345	2,197
Interest accrued	9,863	8,669
Energy risk management liabilities	506	827
Regulatory liabilities - other	624	312
Deferred compensation	10,389	11,374
Other current liabilities	14,273	13,176
Total current liabilities	256,194	237,770
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	946,334	918,858
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,703	4,161
Postretirement benefit obligations	202,484	197,623
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	312
Restricted storm reserve	15,544	14,916
Other deferred credits	23,373	28,510
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,191,438	1,164,380
Long-term debt, net	1,255,042	1,349,653
Total liabilities	$ 2,702,674	$ 2,751,803
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock	$ 61,059	$ 61,051
Premium on common stock	415,617	415,482
Retained earnings	1,217,183	1,208,712
Treasury stock, at cost	(23,225)	(25,310)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(31,294)	(32,665)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,639,340	1,627,270
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,342,014	4,379,073
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	20,063	39,162
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	8,342	8,986
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	49,442	41,500
Accounts receivable - affiliate	23,575	23,621
Other accounts receivable	20,315	27,949
Unbilled revenue	43,341	38,475
Fuel inventory, at average cost	56,921	64,747
Material and supplies inventory, at average cost	73,977	71,124
Energy risk management assets	22,480	10,776
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	6,363	6,725
Accumulated deferred fuel	9,087	21,554
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	19,845	19,678
Prepayments	8,077	7,283
Regulatory assets	15,002	12,212
Other current assets	1,121	368
Total current assets	377,951	394,160
Property, plant, and equipment
Property, plant, and equipment	4,534,234	4,495,490
Accumulated depreciation	(1,479,472)	(1,433,206)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,054,762	3,062,284
Construction work in progress	116,177	96,702
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,170,939	3,158,986
Equity investment in investees	15,372	14,532
Prepayments	4,965	4,891
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	15,794	15,109
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	236,742	234,370
Regulatory assets	295,280	311,867
Intangible asset	83,048	90,642
Other deferred charges	21,214	18,429
Total assets	4,221,305	4,242,986
Current liabilities
Long-term debt due within one year	43,847	18,272
Accounts payable	91,379	116,925
Accounts payable - affiliate	6,781	7,760
Customer deposits	54,587	53,411
Provision for rate refund	5,444	2,264
Taxes payable	22,064	3,115
Interest accrued	10,324	9,224
Energy risk management liabilities	506	827
Regulatory liabilities - other	624	312
Other current liabilities	11,003	9,380
Total current liabilities	246,559	221,490
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	1,039,395	1,001,332
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,703	4,161
Postretirement benefit obligations	143,947	135,825
Regulatory liabilities - other	0	312
Restricted storm reserve	15,544	14,916
Other deferred credits	22,532	26,439
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,225,121	1,182,985
Long-term debt, net	1,203,042	1,292,653
Total capitalization	$ 2,749,625	$ 2,838,511
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (16,981)	$ (17,288)
Total shareholders’ equity	1,546,583	1,545,858
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 4,221,305	$ 4,242,986