EXHIBIT 12(a)

CLECO CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES

AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 (UNAUDITED)

		For the					For the				For the
		three					six				twelve
		months ended					months ended				months ended
				June 30, 2004
				(Thousands, except ratios)
Earnings from continuing operations			$		10,969			$	24,189		$	42,895
Federal and state income taxes					7,919				13,450			24,441
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes			$		18,888			$	37,639		$	67,336
Fixed charges:
	Interest, long-term debt		$		10,571			$	25,678		$	56,040
	Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)				(282)				1,624			5,145
	Amortization of debt expense, premium, net				807				1,712			3,599
	Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor				82				167			312
Total fixed charges			$		11,178			$	29,181		$	65,096
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes			$		18,888			$	37,639		$	67,336
	Plus:  total fixed charges				11,178				29,181			65,096
	Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest				102				281			644
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
	and fixed charges		$		30,168			$	67,101		$	133,076
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges					2.70	X			2.30	X		2.04	X
Total fixed charges from above			$		11,178			$	29,181		$	65,096
Preferred stock dividends					885				923			828
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends			$		12,063			$	30,104		$	65,924
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges
	and preferred stock dividends				2.50	X			2.23	X		2.02	X