Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Customer accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,202	$ 2,674
Shareholders’ equity [Abstract]
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	61,058,918	61,058,918
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	60,547,639	60,482,468
Treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	511,279	576,450
Cleco Power [Member]
Customer accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,202	$ 2,674