Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	$ 1,674,841
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	581	$ 662
Balances	1,670,110
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(26,585)	(32,665)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	528	609
Net current-period other comprehensive income	581	662
Balances	(26,004)	(32,003)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(20,857)	(26,726)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	528	609
Net current-period other comprehensive income	528	609
Balances	(20,329)	(26,117)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(5,728)	(5,939)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53
Balances	(5,675)	(5,886)
Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Cleco Power [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	1,552,404
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	253	(34)
Balances	1,548,536
Cleco Power [Member] \| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(17,092)	(17,288)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	200	(87)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	253	(34)
Balances	(16,839)	(17,322)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	53	53
Cleco Power [Member] \| Postretirement Benefit Net Loss [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(11,364)	(11,349)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	200	(87)
Net current-period other comprehensive income	200	(87)
Balances	(11,164)	(11,436)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Roll Forward]
Balances	(5,728)	(5,939)
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Net current-period other comprehensive income	53	53
Balances	(5,675)	(5,886)
Cleco Power [Member] \| Net Loss on Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member]
Net current-period other comprehensive income [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 53	$ 53

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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