Cleco Corporation Declares Regular Common and Preferred Dividends

  The Board of Directors of Cleco Corporation
(NYSE: CNL) today declared regular quarterly dividends on the Company's
common stock and preferred stock.  Following is a summary of dividend
payments, as declared:

                     Dividend
Class of Stock       Declared      Record Date         Payment Date
--------------       --------      -----------         ------------

Common Stock          $0.225     February 8, 2010     February 15, 2010

4.5% Preferred
 Stock                $1.125     February 16, 2010    March 1, 2010

The Company has a dividend reinvestment plan which allows dividends on its common and preferred stock to be reinvested in additional shares of common stock at market price. Brokerage commissions and administrative fees are incurred on dividend purchases.

Cleco Corp. is a regional energy company headquartered in Pineville, La. It operates a regulated electric utility company that serves about 276,000 customers across Louisiana. Cleco also operates a wholesale energy business with approximately 1,350 megawatts of name plate capacity. For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.

Investor Contacts: Cleco Corporation: Russell Davis [phone] Shareholder Services: Rodney Hamilton [phone] Media Contact: Fran Phoenix [phone]