CLECO CORPORATION EXHIBIT 23(a)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-10169, 33-26726, 33-38362, 33-44663, 333-44364, 333-59692, 333-59696, 333-124716, 333-127496, 333-158994, and 333-164066) and the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-162772) of Cleco Corporation of our report dated February 24, 2011 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana

February 24, 2011