Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	$ 4,879	$ 4,879		$ 9,263
Total non-current	16,490	16,490		16,195
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents	21,369	21,369		25,458
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash		(4,088)	$ (5,377)
Cleco Katrina Rita Storm Recovery Bonds
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	3,580	3,580		9,263
Cleco Power's sale of property
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total current	1,299	1,299		0
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	1,300
Diversified Lands’ mitigation escrow
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	21	21		21
Cleco Power’s future storm restoration costs
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total non-current	16,469	16,469		$ 16,174
Katrina Rita storm recovery collections, net of administration fees
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash		$ 5,200
Katrina Rita Bond Principal Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(8,500)
Katrina Rita Bond Interest Payments
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	$ (2,300)