Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013		$ (25,876)			$ (15,177)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 1,759	1,759	$ 998		998
Net income	133,392		124,509
Balances at Sep. 30, 2014		(24,117)			(14,179)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2014		(24,488)			(14,324)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	371	371	145		145
Net income	70,835		65,544
Balances at Sep. 30, 2014		(24,117)			(14,179)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	1,627,270	(32,665)	1,545,858	$ 1,563,146	(17,288)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,010	2,010	578		578
Distributions to parent			(100,000)	(100,000)
Net income	111,819		119,080	119,080
Balances at Sep. 30, 2015	1,671,750	(30,655)	1,565,516	1,582,226	(16,710)
Balances at Jun. 30, 2015		(31,294)			(16,981)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	639	639	271		271
Net income	54,663		58,661
Balances at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 1,671,750	$ (30,655)	$ 1,565,516	$ 1,582,226	$ (16,710)