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