Affiliate Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts payable - affiliate		$ 0
Principal Owner [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	$ 3,800
Accounts payable - affiliate	100
Cleco Power [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	3,812	1,908
Accounts payable - affiliate	6,432	6,598
Cleco Power [Member] \| Principal Owner [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	2,882	653
Accounts payable - affiliate	328	564
Cleco Power [Member] \| Support Group [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	915	1,254
Accounts payable - affiliate	6,104	6,034
Cleco Power [Member] \| Other [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable - affiliate	15	1
Accounts payable - affiliate	$ 0	$ 0

The aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due within one year (or one business cycle).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph k
-Subparagraph 2
-Article 4

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant