Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Cleco Power [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Member's Equity [Member]	Cleco Power [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014		$ (32,665)			$ (17,288)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 662	662	$ (34)		(34)
Net income	26,922		28,605
Balances at Mar. 31, 2015		(32,003)			(17,322)
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015	1,674,841	(26,585)	1,552,404	$ 1,569,496	(17,092)
Increase (Decrease) in Member's Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	581	581	253		253
Distributions to parent			(25,000)	(25,000)
Net income	19,368		20,879	20,879
Balances at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 1,670,110	$ (26,004)	$ 1,548,536	$ 1,565,375	$ (16,839)