Litigation, Other Commitments and Contingencies, and Disclosures about Guarantees, Fuel Transportation Agreement and Capital Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2012 Towboat
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2016	$ 2,607
2017	1,818
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	2,607	$ 2,448
Cleco Power [Member]
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2016	2,607
2017	1,818
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	2,607	2,448
Cleco Power [Member] | Barges [Member]
Capital Leased Assets [Line Items]
Capital Leased Assets, Number of Units | Towboat			42
Fuel Transportation Agreement [Abstract]
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	3,700	3,700
Analysis of leased property under capital leases by major classes [Abstract]
Barges	11,350	11,350
Less: accumulated amortization	7,296	4,864
Net capital leases	4,054	6,486
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2016	3,735
2017	2,480
Total minimum lease payments	6,215
Less: executory costs	1,554
Net minimum lease payments	4,661
Less: amount representing interest	236
Present value of net minimum lease payments	4,425
Capital lease payments/Current liabilities	2,607
Non-current liabilities	1,818
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Sublease Revenue	$ 500	$ 400