Pension Plan and Employee Benefits (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of Net Periodic Pension and Other Benefit Costs

The components of net periodic pension and other benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and 2011 are as follows:

	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011			2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit costs:
Service cost	$	2,149		$	2,052		$	397	$	379
Interest cost	4,430			4,392			476		460
Expected return on plan assets	(5,194		)	(5,512		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			5		5
Prior period service cost	(18		)	(18		)	—		(52		)
Net loss	1,783			1,403			200		257
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,150		$	2,317		$	1,078	$	1,049

401(k) Plan Expense

Cleco’s 401(k) Plan expense for the three monthsended March 31, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
401(k) Plan expense	$	1,493	$	1,201

SERP Benefits [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Components of Net Periodic Pension and Other Benefit Costs

Cleco Power is considered the plan sponsor, and Support Group is considered the plan administrator.

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit costs:
Service cost	$	1,001	$	450
Interest cost	574		525
Amortizations:
Prior period service cost	14		14
Net loss	309		262
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,898	$	1,251