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, 2011
Earnings from continuing operations	$	65,842		$	165,205		$	185,829
Undistributed equity income from investees		1			(3,385	)		(3,022	)
Income taxes		24,737			73,451			88,538
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	90,580		$	235,271		$	271,345
Fixed charges:
Interest, long-term debt	$	20,776		$	64,036		$	84,611
Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt)		4,635			13,157			16,013
Amortization of debt expense, premium, net		694			2,175			3,009
Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor		126			363			464
Interest of capitalized lease		442			1,356			1,827
Total fixed charges	$	26,673		$	81,087		$	105,924
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	$	90,580		$	235,271		$	271,345
Plus:  total fixed charges from above		26,673			81,087			105,924
Plus:  amortization of capitalized interest		77			154			308
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges	$	117,330		$	316,512		$	377,577
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		4.40	X		3.90	X		3.56	X
Total fixed charges from above		26,673			81,087			105,924
Preferred stock dividends		-			38			56
Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		26,673			81,125			105,980
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends		4.40	X		3.90	X		3.56	X