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 NINE MONTHS ENDED			FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
(THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)				SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
Earnings from continuing operations	$	59,855		$	93,530		$	107,079
Equity income/loss and dividends from investees		(14,208	)		669			8,933
Income taxes		4,983			13,258			9,142
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	50,630		$	107,457		$	125,154
Fixed charges:
Interest, long-term debt	$	15,713		$	49,122		$	64,751
Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)		1,063			7,951			13,906
Amortization of debt expense, premium, net		585			1,754			2,328
Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor		134			383			529
Interest, capitalized lease		515			1,452			1,452
Total fixed charges	$	18,010		$	60,662		$	82,966
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	50,630		$	107,457		$	125,154
Plus:  total fixed charges from above		18,010			60,662			82,966
Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest		102			305			407
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges	$	68,742		$	168,424		$	208,527
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		3.82	X		2.78	X		2.51	X
Total fixed charges from above		18,010			60,662			82,966
Preferred stock dividends		13			40			50
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		18,023			60,702			83,016
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		3.81	X		2.77	X		2.51	X