Income Taxes, Net Operating Losses & Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest payable	$ 0	$ 0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest Expense		0	$ 200,000
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning	0	5,071,000	3,126,000
Reduction for tax positions of current period	0	0	0
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	0	2,193,000
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	0	0	(248,000)
Reduction for settlement with tax authority	0	(5,071,000)	0
Reduction for lapse of statute of limitations	0	0	0
Ending	0	0	5,071,000
Liability for uncertain tax positions	0
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Expense	0	100,000	0
Cleco Power [Member]
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest payable	0
Customer Surcredits	1,300,000	5,200,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest Expense	0	0	100,000
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning	0	0	248,000
Reduction for tax positions of current period	0	0	0
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	0	0
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	0	0	(248,000)
Reduction for settlement with tax authority	0	0	0
Reduction for lapse of statute of limitations	0	0	0
Ending	0	$ 0	$ 0
Federal [Member]
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards	15,800,000
State [Member]
Net Operating Losses [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 127,700,000