Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 112,446	$ 68,246
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,879	9,263
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	37,671	43,255
Other accounts receivable	27,812	27,677
Unbilled revenue	32,787	33,995
Fuel inventory, at average cost	51,670	72,838
Material and supplies, at average cost	80,174	76,731
Energy risk management assets	2,252	7,673
Accumulated deferred fuel	13,654	12,910
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	74,308	73,823
Prepayments	5,692	7,883
Regulatory assets	16,641	14,117
Other current assets	2,641	448
Total current assets	462,627	448,859
Property, plant, and equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant, and equipment	4,691,445	4,661,212
Accumulated depreciation	(1,562,348)	(1,536,158)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,129,097	3,125,054
Construction work in progress	70,772	66,509
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,199,869	3,191,563
Equity investment in investee	19,272	16,822
Prepayments	4,656	4,542
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	16,490	16,195
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	237,030	236,941
Regulatory assets	280,177	284,689
Net investment in direct financing lease	13,453	13,464
Intangible asset	71,103	74,963
Tax credit fund investment, net	13,594	13,741
Other deferred charges	14,898	21,575
Total assets	4,333,169	4,323,354
Current liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt due within one year	19,967	19,421
Accounts payable	73,032	93,822
Customer deposits	55,810	55,233
Provision for rate refund	3,017	2,696
Taxes payable	16,807	2,573
Interest accrued	23,894	7,814
Energy risk management liabilities	386	275
Regulatory liabilities - other	156	312
Deferred compensation	9,227	10,156
Other current liabilities	17,106	14,277
Total current liabilities	219,402	206,579
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits [Abstract]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	934,964	925,103
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,121	3,245
Postretirement benefit obligations	206,807	205,036
Restricted storm reserve	16,475	16,177
Other deferred credits	31,006	24,670
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,192,373	1,174,231
Long-term debt, net	1,251,284	1,267,703
Total liabilities	$ 2,663,059	$ 2,648,513
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity [Abstract]
Common stock	$ 61,059	$ 61,059
Premium on common stock	415,409	418,518
Retained earnings	1,240,192	1,245,014
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,546)	(23,165)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(26,004)	(26,585)
Total common shareholders’ equity	1,670,110	1,674,841
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,333,169	4,323,354
Cleco Power [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	110,548	65,705
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,879	9,263
Customer accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts)	37,671	43,255
Accounts receivable - affiliate	782	1,908
Other accounts receivable	27,685	27,553
Unbilled revenue	32,787	33,995
Fuel inventory, at average cost	51,670	72,838
Material and supplies, at average cost	80,174	76,731
Energy risk management assets	2,252	7,673
Accumulated deferred fuel	13,654	12,910
Cash surrender value of company-/trust-owned life insurance policies	20,083	20,003
Prepayments	4,634	6,309
Regulatory assets	16,641	14,117
Other current assets	2,231	337
Total current assets	405,691	392,597
Property, plant, and equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant, and equipment	4,675,788	4,645,698
Accumulated depreciation	(1,551,152)	(1,525,298)
Net property, plant, and equipment	3,124,636	3,120,400
Construction work in progress	70,423	66,069
Total property, plant, and equipment, net	3,195,059	3,186,469
Equity investment in investee	19,272	16,822
Prepayments	4,656	4,542
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	16,469	16,174
Regulatory assets - deferred taxes, net	237,030	236,941
Regulatory assets	280,177	284,689
Intangible asset	71,103	74,963
Other deferred charges	13,463	20,140
Total assets	4,242,920	4,233,337
Current liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt due within one year	19,967	19,421
Accounts payable	68,277	88,235
Accounts payable - affiliate	7,613	6,598
Customer deposits	55,810	55,233
Provision for rate refund	3,017	2,696
Taxes payable	27,905	17,045
Interest accrued	23,891	7,813
Energy risk management liabilities	386	275
Regulatory liabilities - other	156	312
Other current liabilities	13,141	10,078
Total current liabilities	220,163	207,706
Long-term liabilities and deferred credits [Abstract]
Accumulated deferred federal and state income taxes, net	1,046,270	1,043,531
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits	3,121	3,245
Postretirement benefit obligations	153,461	152,152
Restricted storm reserve	16,475	16,177
Other deferred credits	30,284	24,083
Total long-term liabilities and deferred credits	1,249,611	1,239,188
Long-term debt, net	1,224,610	1,234,039
Total capitalization	$ 2,773,146	$ 2,786,443
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Shareholders’ equity [Abstract]
Total common shareholders’ equity	$ 1,548,536	$ 1,552,404
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 4,242,920	$ 4,233,337