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, 2010
Earnings from continuing operations	$	149,970		$	249,628
Undistributed equity gain from investees		(37,847	)		(30,575	)
Income taxes		79,866			88,119
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	191,989		$	307,172
Fixed charges:
Interest, long-term debt	$	17,737		$	68,257
Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)		7,581			11,664
Amortization of debt expense, premium, net		688			1,997
Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor		112			510
Interest of capitalized lease		498			2,042
Total fixed charges	$	26,616		$	84,470
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	191,989		$	307,172
Plus:  total fixed charges from above		26,616			84,470
Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest		162			467
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges	$	218,767		$	392,109
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		8.22	X		4.64	X
Total fixed charges from above		26,616			84,470
Preferred stock dividends		18			63
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		26,634			84,533
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		8.21	X		4.64	X