Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances			$ 1,627,270
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	$ 639	$ 371	2,010	$ 1,759
Balances	1,671,750		1,671,750
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(31,294)	(24,488)	(32,665)	(25,876)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	586	318	1,851	1,600
Net current-period other comprehensive income	639	371	2,010	1,759
Balances	(30,655)	(24,117)	(30,655)	(24,117)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53	159	159
Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(25,461)	(18,443)	(26,726)	(19,725)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	586	318	1,851	1,600
Net current-period other comprehensive income	586	318	1,851	1,600
Balances	(24,875)	(18,125)	(24,875)	(18,125)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(5,833)	(6,045)	(5,939)	(6,151)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53	159	159
Balances	(5,780)	(5,992)	(5,780)	(5,992)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53	159	159
Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances			1,545,858
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	271	145	578	998
Balances	1,565,516		1,565,516
Cleco Power [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(16,981)	(14,324)	(17,288)	(15,177)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	218	92	419	839
Net current-period other comprehensive income	271	145	578	998
Balances	(16,710)	(14,179)	(16,710)	(14,179)
Cleco Power [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53	159	159
Cleco Power [Member] | Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(11,148)	(8,279)	(11,349)	(9,026)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	218	92	419	839
Net current-period other comprehensive income	218	92	419	839
Balances	(10,930)	(8,187)	(10,930)	(8,187)
Cleco Power [Member] | Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(5,833)	(6,045)	(5,939)	(6,151)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53	159	159
Balances	(5,780)	(5,992)	(5,780)	(5,992)
Cleco Power [Member] | Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 53	$ 53	$ 159	$ 159