Income Taxes, Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before tax	$ 211,373	$ 221,855	$ 240,260
Statutory rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax at federal statutory rate	$ 73,981	$ 77,649	$ 84,091
Increase (decrease):
Plant differences, including AFUDC flowthrough	1,875	462	427
Amortization of investment tax credits	(916)	(983)	(1,108)
State income taxes	1,117	23	1,094
Settlement with taxing authorities	0	(9,106)	0
NMTC	243	(754)	(4,806)
Other	1,404	(175)	(123)
Total taxes	$ 77,704	$ 67,116	$ 79,575
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	36.80%	30.30%	33.10%
Cleco Power [Member]
Income tax reconciliation [Abstract]
Income before tax	$ 220,644	$ 231,290	$ 229,791
Statutory rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax at federal statutory rate	$ 77,225	$ 80,952	$ 80,427
Increase (decrease):
Plant differences, including AFUDC flowthrough	1,875	462	427
Amortization of investment tax credits	(916)	(983)	(1,108)
State income taxes	1,501	351	730
Settlement with taxing authorities	0	(2,320)	0
Other	(391)	(1,488)	(1,095)
Total taxes	$ 79,294	$ 76,974	$ 79,381
Effective Rate (in hundredths)	35.90%	33.30%	34.50%