CLECO CORPORATION  EXHIBIT 12(a)

Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined

Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends 

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED			FOR THE TWELVE  MONTHS ENDED
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)	MARCH 31, 2008
Earnings from continuing operations	$	22,072		$	165,215
Undistributed equity income from investees		4,574			(77,391	)
Income taxes		5,061			73,690
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	31,707		$	161,514
Fixed charges:
Interest, long-term debt	$	11,126		$	40,824
Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)		2,445			8,723
Amortization of debt expense, premium, net		550			2,029
Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor		123			526
Total fixed charges	$	14,244		$	52,102
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	31,707		$	161,514
Plus:  total fixed charges from above		14,244			52,102
Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest		102			407
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges	$	46,053		$	214,023
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		3.23	X		4.11	X
Total fixed charges from above		14,244			52,102
Preferred stock dividends		14			67
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		14,258			52,169
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		3.23	X		4.10	X