Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Operating revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	$ 325,994	$ 352,763	$ 880,169	$ 939,519
Other operations	19,937	19,497	53,472	48,878
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	345,931	372,260	933,641	988,397
Electric customer credits	(463)	(874)	(3,642)	(23,555)
Operating revenue, net	345,468	371,386	929,999	964,842
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	105,052	104,463	277,187	220,206
Power purchased for utility customers	31,544	63,024	109,758	197,141
Other operations	33,021	29,851	93,018	85,568
Maintenance	20,183	20,558	60,700	79,173
Depreciation	39,120	37,834	112,866	117,145
Taxes other than income taxes	13,145	7,273	38,734	32,946
Merger transaction costs	831	1,141	2,561	1,506
Gain on sale of assets			0	(145)
Total operating expenses	242,896	264,144	694,824	733,540
Operating income	102,572	107,242	235,175	231,302
Interest income	346	416	734	1,369
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	660	631	2,197	4,291
Other income	162	848	1,279	4,314
Other expense	(2,723)	(685)	(3,494)	(1,727)
Interest charges [Abstract]
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	18,781	13,375	59,264	54,767
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(188)	(200)	(640)	(1,259)
Total interest charges	18,593	13,175	58,624	53,508
Income before income taxes	82,424	95,277	177,267	186,041
Federal and state income tax expense	27,761	24,442	65,448	52,649
Net income	54,663	70,835	111,819	133,392
Net income applicable to common stock	$ 54,663	$ 70,835	$ 111,819	$ 133,392
Basic average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,481,584	60,372,569	60,474,228	60,410,122
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,793,391	60,689,596	60,759,939	60,711,543
Basic earnings per average common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ 1.17	$ 1.85	$ 2.21
Diluted earnings per average common share (in dollars per share)	0.90	1.17	1.84	2.20
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 1.20	$ 1.1625
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	$ 325,994	$ 352,763	$ 880,169	$ 939,519
Other operations	19,418	18,957	51,913	47,256
Affiliate revenue	240	332	904	998
Gross operating revenue	345,652	372,052	932,986	987,773
Electric customer credits	(463)	(874)	(3,642)	(23,555)
Operating revenue, net	345,189	371,178	929,344	964,218
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	105,052	104,463	277,187	220,206
Power purchased for utility customers	31,544	63,024	109,758	202,608
Other operations	33,639	30,816	93,770	85,279
Maintenance	19,932	19,926	60,106	76,386
Depreciation	38,376	37,518	111,485	115,016
Taxes other than income taxes	12,680	7,128	37,159	31,197
Total operating expenses	241,223	262,875	689,465	730,692
Operating income	103,966	108,303	239,879	233,526
Interest income	303	398	607	1,349
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	660	631	2,197	4,291
Other income	223	476	1,521	1,228
Other expense	(544)	(684)	(1,606)	(1,625)
Interest charges [Abstract]
Interest charges, including amortization of debt expense, premium, and discount, net	18,497	14,686	58,252	56,144
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(188)	(200)	(640)	(1,259)
Total interest charges	18,309	14,486	57,612	54,885
Income before income taxes	86,299	94,638	184,986	183,884
Federal and state income tax expense	27,638	29,094	65,906	59,375
Net income	$ 58,661	$ 65,544	$ 119,080	$ 124,509