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			nine			twelve
		months ended			months ended			months ended
(Thousands, except ratios)			September 30, 2004
Earnings from continuing operations		$	27,689		$	52,314		$	47,332
Income taxes			16,500			29,950			25,848
Earnings from operations before income taxes		$	44,189		$	82,264		$	73,180
Fixed charges:
	Interest, long-term debt	$	10,632		$	36,310		$	51,395
	Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)		626			2,250			4,193
	Amortization of debt expense, premium, net		806			2,517			3,460
	Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor		86			259			336
Total fixed charges		$	12,150		$	41,336		$	59,384
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes		$	44,189		$	82,264		$	73,180
	Plus:  total fixed charges		12,150			41,336			59,384
	Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest		102			383			564
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
	and fixed charges	$	56,441		$	123,983		$	133,128
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			4.65	x		3.00	x		2.24	x
Total fixed charges from above		$	12,150		$	41,336		$	59,384
Preferred stock dividends			110			1,221			1,260
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		$	12,260		$	42,557		$	60,644
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges
	and preferred stock dividends		4.60	x		2.91	x		2.20	x