Disclosures about Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) entity	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of transmission interconnection facility subsidiaries | entity	2
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	$ 250,157	$ 277,514
Other operations	17,132	17,732
Electric customer credits	(321)	211
Affiliate revenue	0	0
Operating revenue, net	266,968	295,457
Depreciation and amortization	38,938	37,278
Merger transaction costs	1,522	2,140
Interest charges	19,553	20,122
Interest income	224	297
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	12,137	17,328
Net income (loss)	19,368	26,922
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	35,476	36,297
Equity investment in investee	19,272		$ 16,822
Total segment assets	4,333,169		4,323,354
Operating Segments [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	250,157	277,514
Other operations	16,614	17,213
Electric customer credits	(321)	211
Affiliate revenue	232	333
Operating revenue, net	266,682	295,271
Depreciation and amortization	38,603	36,983
Merger transaction costs	0	0
Interest charges	19,285	19,902
Interest income	179	256
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	12,563	18,359
Net income (loss)	20,879	28,605
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	35,453	36,232
Equity investment in investee	19,272		16,822
Total segment assets	4,242,920		4,233,337
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	0	0
Other operations	518	520
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	13,024	12,804
Operating revenue, net	13,542	13,324
Depreciation and amortization	335	295
Merger transaction costs	1,539	2,140
Interest charges	278	115
Interest income	55	(63)
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	(426)	(1,030)
Net income (loss)	(1,511)	(1,684)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	23	65
Equity investment in investee	0		0
Total segment assets	(14,679)		21,471
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Revenue [Abstract]
Electric operations	0	0
Other operations	0	(1)
Electric customer credits	0	0
Affiliate revenue	(13,256)	(13,137)
Operating revenue, net	(13,256)	(13,138)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Merger transaction costs	(17)	0
Interest charges	(10)	105
Interest income	(10)	104
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)	0	(1)
Net income (loss)	0	1
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	$ 0
Equity investment in investee	0		0
Total segment assets	$ 104,928		$ 68,546