Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,142,389	$ 1,225,960	$ 1,047,548
Other operations	69,186	67,055	51,002
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Gross operating revenue	1,211,575	1,293,015	1,098,550
Electric customer credits	(2,173)	(23,530)	(1,836)
Operating revenue, net	1,209,402	1,269,485	1,096,714
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	373,117	322,696	329,874
Power purchased for utility customers	130,095	242,219	45,292
Other operations	127,410	117,369	121,646
Maintenance	88,137	98,999	97,441
Depreciation and amortization	149,579	146,505	142,860
Taxes other than income taxes	49,134	43,924	50,469
Merger transaction costs	4,591	17,848	0
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	(6,107)	800
Total operating expenses	922,063	983,453	788,382
Operating income (loss)	287,339	286,032	308,332
Interest income	895	1,768	1,105
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	3,063	5,380	4,081
Equity loss from investees, before tax	(8)	0	0
Other income	1,443	4,790	13,857
Other expense	(3,368)	(2,509)	(2,861)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt issuance costs, premiums, and discounts, net	78,877	75,186	85,570
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(886)	(1,580)	(1,316)
Total interest charges	77,991	73,606	84,254
Income before income taxes	211,373	221,855	240,260
Federal and state income tax expense	77,704	67,116	79,575
Net income	133,669	154,739	160,685
Net income applicable to common stock	$ 133,669	$ 154,739	$ 160,685
Basic average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,476,066	60,406,001	60,434,510
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,689,269	60,601,458	60,720,090
Basic earnings per average common share outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 2.21	$ 2.56	$ 2.66
Diluted earnings per average common share outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 2.20	$ 2.55	$ 2.65
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,142,389	$ 1,225,960	$ 1,047,548
Other operations	67,109	64,893	48,909
Affiliate revenue	1,142	1,326	1,338
Gross operating revenue	1,210,640	1,292,179	1,097,795
Electric customer credits	(2,173)	(23,530)	(1,836)
Operating revenue, net	1,208,467	1,268,649	1,095,959
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	373,117	322,696	329,874
Power purchased for utility customers	130,095	247,686	76,962
Other operations	128,697	116,664	114,884
Maintenance	87,416	96,054	85,638
Depreciation and amortization	147,839	144,026	135,717
Taxes other than income taxes	47,102	41,812	46,203
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	(4)	0
Total operating expenses	914,266	968,934	789,278
Operating income (loss)	294,201	299,715	306,681
Interest income	725	1,707	1,100
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	3,063	5,380	4,081
Other income	1,764	1,483	4,883
Other expense	(2,549)	(2,322)	(4,277)
Interest charges
Interest charges, including amortization of debt issuance costs, premiums, and discounts, net	77,446	76,253	83,993
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(886)	(1,580)	(1,316)
Total interest charges	76,560	74,673	82,677
Income before income taxes	220,644	231,290	229,791
Federal and state income tax expense	79,294	76,974	79,381
Net income	$ 141,350	$ 154,316	$ 150,410