Income Taxes, Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	$ (948,597)	$ (892,725)
Net operating loss carryforward	12,092	56,315
NMTC	87,544	84,504
Fuel costs	(7,833)	(11,686)
Other comprehensive income	15,774	19,576
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(90,122)	(90,135)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	11,561	812
Other	(5,522)	(8,734)
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	(925,103)	(842,073)
Cleco Power [Member]
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Depreciation and property basis differences	(944,675)	(890,030)
Net operating loss carryforward	18	12,323
Fuel costs	(7,833)	(11,686)
Other comprehensive income	9,878	10,002
Regulated operations regulatory liability, net	(90,122)	(90,135)
Postretirement benefits other than pension	(3,853)	(14,346)
Other	(6,944)	(10,735)
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes	$ (1,043,531)	$ (994,607)