Pension Plan and Employee Benefits, Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets, and Funded Status (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 498,372	$ 392,488
Service cost	10,419	8,050	$ 9,889
Interest cost	20,795	19,851	17,940
Plan participants' contributions	0	0
Actuarial (gain) loss	(30,483)	95,576
Expenses paid	(1,995)	(1,671)
Medicare D	0	0
Other adjustments	0	0
Benefits paid	(17,046)	(15,922)
Benefit obligation at end of year	480,062	498,372	392,488
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	412,803	384,555
Actual return on plan assets	(10,230)	45,841
Employer contributions	0	0
Expenses paid	(1,995)	(1,671)
Benefits paid	(17,046)	(15,922)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	383,532	412,803	384,555
Unfunded status	(96,530)	(85,569)
Other Benefits [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	44,652	43,840
Service cost	1,635	1,542	1,656
Interest cost	1,607	1,809	1,568
Plan participants' contributions	903	872
Actuarial (gain) loss	(1,039)	1,228
Expenses paid	0	0
Medicare D	48	132
Other adjustments	0	(551)
Benefits paid	(4,736)	(4,220)
Benefit obligation at end of year	43,070	44,652	43,840
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Expenses paid	0	0
Benefits paid	(4,736)	(4,220)
Unfunded status	(43,070)	(44,652)
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current	3,613	3,470
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent	39,457	41,182
SERP Benefits [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll Forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	73,902	57,865
Service cost	2,705	2,278	2,055
Interest cost	3,056	3,028	2,578
Actuarial (gain) loss	(4,488)	13,436
Benefits paid	(2,860)	(2,705)
Benefit obligation at end of year	72,315	73,902	$ 57,865
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Benefits paid	(2,860)	(2,705)
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities, Current	3,238	3,031
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	69,049	70,871
Cleco Power [Member] | Other Benefits [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Current	3,140	3,206
Postemployment Benefits Liability, Noncurrent	34,300	31,250
Cleco Power [Member] | SERP Benefits [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll Forward]
Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities, Current	1,000	813
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	$ 21,321	$ 19,006