EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated January 31, 2000 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in Cleco Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Experts" in such Registration Statement. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New Orleans, Louisiana February 13, 2001