Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, Pension Plan and Other Benefits Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of periodic benefit costs [Abstract]
Service cost	$ 2,605	$ 2,013	$ 7,814	$ 6,038
Interest cost	5,198	4,963	15,596	14,888
Expected return on plan assets	(5,846)	(6,127)	(17,536)	(18,380)
Amortization [Abstract]
Transition obligation	0	0	0	0
Prior period service (credit) cost	(17)	(18)	(53)	(53)
Net loss	3,457	1,686	10,371	5,057
Net periodic benefit cost	5,397	2,517	16,192	7,550
Other Benefits [Member]
Components of periodic benefit costs [Abstract]
Service cost	442	347	1,226	1,157
Interest cost	461	432	1,205	1,357
Expected return on plan assets	0	0	0	0
Amortization [Abstract]
Transition obligation	0	2	0	12
Prior period service (credit) cost	21	29	89	89
Net loss	174	147	650	502
Net periodic benefit cost	1,098	957	3,170	3,117
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current	3,470		3,470		$ 3,470
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent	40,566		40,566		41,182
Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Pension Benefits [Member]
Amortization [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	500	400	1,500	1,300
Cleco Power [Member] | Other Benefits [Member]
Amortization [Abstract]
Net periodic benefit cost	900	$ 800	2,700	$ 2,700
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current	3,019		3,019		3,206
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent	$ 35,250		$ 35,250		$ 31,250