EXHIBIT 32(a)

Cleco Corporation

Certification Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Cleco Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, David M. Eppler, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and I, Dilek Samil, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cleco Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:  August 4, 2004

/s/ David M. Eppler                             

David M. Eppler

President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Dilek Samil                                     

Dilek Samil

Executive Vice President and Chief

   Financial Officer