Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	$ 250,157	$ 277,514
Other operations	17,132	17,732
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Gross operating revenue	267,289	295,246
Electric customer credits	(321)	211
Operating revenue, net	266,968	295,457
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	87,443	88,125
Power purchased for utility customers	23,105	44,081
Other operations	29,325	28,557
Maintenance	24,631	19,082
Depreciation and amortization	38,938	37,278
Taxes other than income taxes	12,907	13,472
Merger transaction costs	1,522	2,140
Gain on sale of asset	(1,095)	0
Total operating expenses	216,776	232,735
Operating income	50,192	62,722
Interest income	224	297
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	652	1,076
Other income	506	866
Other expense	(516)	(589)
Interest charges [Abstract]
Interest charges, including amortization of debt issuance costs, premiums, and discounts, net	19,738	20,443
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(185)	(321)
Total interest charges	19,553	20,122
Income before income taxes	31,505	44,250
Federal and state income tax expense	12,137	17,328
Net income	19,368	26,922
Net income applicable to common stock	$ 19,368	$ 26,922
Basic average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,528,489	60,463,693
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	60,631,510	60,700,085
Basic earnings per average common share outstanding (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.45
Diluted earnings per average common share outstanding (in dollars per share)	0.32	0.44
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40
Cleco Power [Member]
Operating revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	$ 250,157	$ 277,514
Other operations	16,614	17,213
Affiliate revenue	232	333
Gross operating revenue	267,003	295,060
Electric customer credits	(321)	211
Operating revenue, net	266,682	295,271
Operating expenses [Abstract]
Fuel used for electric generation	87,443	88,125
Power purchased for utility customers	23,105	44,081
Other operations	29,399	28,482
Maintenance	24,538	18,944
Depreciation and amortization	38,603	36,983
Taxes other than income taxes	12,424	12,986
Gain on sale of asset	(1,095)	0
Total operating expenses	214,417	229,601
Operating income	52,265	65,670
Interest income	179	256
Allowance for equity funds used during construction	652	1,076
Other income	148	452
Other expense	(517)	(588)
Interest charges [Abstract]
Interest charges, including amortization of debt issuance costs, premiums, and discounts, net	19,470	20,223
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction	(185)	(321)
Total interest charges	19,285	19,902
Income before income taxes	33,442	46,964
Federal and state income tax expense	12,563	18,359
Net income	$ 20,879	$ 28,605