The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) associated with funds that are not available for withdrawal or use (such as funds held in escrow) and are associated with underlying transactions that are classified as investing activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Current			$ 9,263	$ 8,986
Total non-current			16,195	15,130
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents			25,458	24,116
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds			1,341	10,097	$ (201)
Katrina/Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds			21,200
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds	$ (7,700)	$ (8,100)
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Cleco Katrina/Rita's storm recovery bonds	$ (2,500)	$ (2,600)
Diversified Lands mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current			21	21
Cleco Power's future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current			16,174	14,915
Cleco Power's building renovation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current			$ 0	$ 194