Pension Plan and Employee Benefits (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

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



	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,				FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011		2012		2011
401(k) Plan expense	$	963	$	945	$	3,303	$	2,998

Pension Benefits [Member]

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



	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011			2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	2,078		$	2,097		$	303	$	390
Interest cost	4,563			4,407			334		443
Expected return on plan assets	(5,201		)	(6,161		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			5		5
Prior period service cost	(18		)	(18		)	—		(51		)
Net loss	2,087			1,389			112		246
Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,509		$	1,714		$	754	$	1,033



	PENSION BENEFITS						OTHER BENEFITS
	FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012			2011			2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	6,234		$	6,292		$	1,096	$	1,149
Interest cost	13,690			13,222			1,287		1,364
Expected return on plan assets	(15,604		)	(18,484		)	—		—
Amortizations:
Transition obligation	—			—			15		15
Prior period service cost	(53		)	(54		)	—		(154		)
Net loss	6,259			4,167			512		758
Net periodic benefit cost	$	10,526		$	5,143		$	2,910	$	3,132

SERP Benefits [Member]

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



	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,				FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30,
(THOUSANDS)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Components of periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	372	$	392	$	1,115	$	1,175
Interest cost	632		526		1,895		1,578
Amortizations:
Prior period service cost	13		13		40		40
Net loss	441		234		1,324		705
Net periodic benefit cost	$	1,458	$	1,165	$	4,374	$	3,498