Fair Value Accounting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Fair Value [Line Items]

Fair Value By Balance Sheet Grouping

The following tables summarize the carrying value and estimated market value of Cleco and Cleco Power’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Cleco
	AT MAR. 31, 2017				AT DEC. 31, 2016
(THOUSANDS)	CARRYING VALUE*		FAIR VALUE		CARRYING VALUE*		FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt	$	2,756,889	$	2,766,056	$	2,768,149	$	2,754,518

* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $11.7 million at March 31, 2017, and $11.7 million at December 31, 2016

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured On A Recurring Basis

The following tables disclose for Cleco and Cleco Power the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis:

Cleco
	CLECO CONSOLIDATED FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE USING:
(THOUSANDS)	AT MAR. 31, 2017		QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)		SIGNIFICANT OTHER OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)		AT DEC. 31, 2016		QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)		SIGNIFICANT OTHER OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)
Asset description
Institutional money market funds	$	56,624	$	—	$	56,624	$	—	$	66,410	$	—	$	66,410	$	—
FTRs	4,957		—		—		4,957		7,884		—		—		7,884
Total assets	$	61,581	$	—	$	56,624	$	4,957	$	74,294	$	—	$	66,410	$	7,884
Liability description
FTRs	539		—		—		539		201		—		—		201
Total liabilities	$	539	$	—	$	—	$	539	$	201	$	—	$	—	$	201

Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The following tables summarize the net changes in the net fair value of FTR assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy for Cleco and Cleco Power:

Cleco
	SUCCESSOR			PREDECESSOR
(THOUSANDS)	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31, 2017			FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31, 2016
Beginning balance	$	7,683		$	7,398
Unrealized gains (losses)*	2,104			(832		)
Purchases	275			46
Settlements	(5,644		)	(4,746		)
Ending balance	$	4,418		$	1,866
* Unrealized gains and losses are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring, Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]

The following table quantifies the significant unobservable inputs used in developing the fair value of Level 3 positions as of March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016:

	FAIR VALUE				VALUATION TECHNIQUE	SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS	FORWARD PRICE RANGE
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FORWARD PRICE RANGE)	ASSETS		LIABILITIES				LOW			HIGH
FTRs at Mar. 31, 2017	$	4,957	$	539	RTO auction pricing	FTR price - per MWh	$	(3.25	)	$	6.63
FTRs at Dec. 31, 2016	$	7,884	$	201	RTO auction pricing	FTR price - per MWh	$	(3.61	)	$	6.04

Cleco Power [Member]

Fair Value [Line Items]

Fair Value By Balance Sheet Grouping

Cleco Power
	AT MAR. 31, 2017				AT DEC. 31, 2016
(THOUSANDS)	CARRYING VALUE*		FAIR VALUE		CARRYING VALUE*		FAIR VALUE
Long-term debt	$	1,253,410	$	1,418,027	$	1,262,373	$	1,418,693

* The carrying value of long-term debt does not include deferred issuance costs of $8.8 million at March 31, 2017, and $9.4 million at December 31, 2016.

Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured On A Recurring Basis

Cleco Power
	CLECO POWER FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT REPORTING DATE USING:
(THOUSANDS)	AT MAR. 31, 2017		QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)		SIGNIFICANT OTHER OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)		AT DEC. 31, 2016		QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1)		SIGNIFICANT OTHER OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2)		SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3)
Asset description
Institutional money market funds	$	56,598	$	—	$	56,598	$	—	$	65,089	$	—	$	65,089	$	—
FTRs	4,957		—		—		4,957		7,884		—		—		7,884
Total assets	$	61,555	$	—	$	56,598	$	4,957	$	72,973	$	—	$	65,089	$	7,884
Liability description
FTRs	539		—		—		539		201		—		—		201
Total liabilities	$	539	$	—	$	—	$	539	$	201	$	—	$	—	$	201

Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

Cleco Power
	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	7,683		$	7,398
Unrealized gains (losses)*	2,104			(832		)
Purchases	275			46
Settlements	(5,644		)	(4,746		)
Ending balance	$	4,418		$	1,866
* Unrealized gains and losses are reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member]

Fair Value [Line Items]

Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the fair values of derivative instruments and their respective line items as recorded on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016:

	DERIVATIVES NOT DESIGNATED AS HEDGING INSTRUMENTS
(THOUSANDS)	BALANCE SHEET LINE ITEM	AT MAR. 31, 2017		AT DEC. 31, 2016
Commodity-related contracts
FTRs
Current	Energy risk management assets	$	4,957	$	7,884
Current	Energy risk management liabilities	539		201
Commodity-related contracts, net		$	4,418	$	7,683

Effect of Derivatives On Consolidated Statements of Income

The following tables present the effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Cleco and Cleco Power’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 2016:

Cleco
	AMOUNT OF GAIN/(LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME ON DERIVATIVES
		SUCCESSOR			PREDECESSOR
(THOUSANDS)	DERIVATIVES LINE ITEM	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31, 2017			FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31, 2016
Commodity contracts
FTRs(1)	Electric operations	$	9,163		$	8,520
FTRs(1)	Power purchased for utility customers	(4,665		)	(5,723		)
Total		$	4,498		$	2,797

⁽¹⁾ For the period January 1, 2017 - March 31, 2017, unrealized gains associated with FTRs not recognized in income on derivatives of $2.1 million were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet. For the period January 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016, unrealized losses associated with FTRs not recognized in income on derivatives of $0.8 million were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.

Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cleco Power [Member]

Fair Value [Line Items]

Effect of Derivatives On Consolidated Statements of Income

Cleco Power
	AMOUNT OF GAIN/(LOSS) RECOGNIZED IN INCOME ON DERIVATIVES
		FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAR. 31,
(THOUSANDS)	DERIVATIVES LINE ITEM	2017			2016
Commodity contracts
FTRs(1)	Electric operations	$	9,163		$	8,520
FTRs(1)	Power purchased for utility customers	(4,665		)	(5,723		)
Total		$	4,498		$	2,797

⁽¹⁾ For the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 2016, unrealized gains (losses) associated with FTRs not recognized in income on derivatives of $2.1 million and ($0.8) million, respectively, were reported through Accumulated deferred fuel on the balance sheet.