Pension Plan and Employee Benefits (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

The components of net periodic pension and other benefit cost for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 are as follows:



	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011			2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	2,007		$	2,143		$	397	$	379
Interest cost	4,697			4,422			476		460
Expected return on plan assets	(5,209		)	(6,811		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			5		5
Prior period service cost	(18		)	(18		)	—		(51		)
Net loss	2,390			1,376			200		256
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,867		$	1,112		$	1,078	$	1,049



	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011			2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	4,156		$	4,195		$	793	$	758
Interest cost	9,127			8,815			953		921
Expected return on plan assets	(10,403		)	(12,323		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			10		10
Prior period service cost	(36		)	(36		)	—		(103		)
Net loss	4,173			2,778			400		513
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7,017		$	3,429		$	2,156	$	2,099

Cleco’s 401(k) Plan expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:



	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,				FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011		2012		2011
401(k) Plan expense	$	847	$	852	$	2,341	$	2,053

SERP Benefits [Member]

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



	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,					FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011		2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service (credit) cost	$	(258	)	$	333	$	744	$	783
Interest cost	690			527		1,263		1,052
Amortizations:
Prior period service cost	13			13		27		27
Net loss	573			208		882		470
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,018		$	1,081	$	2,916	$	2,332