<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CLECO
CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0001089819
<NAME>  CLECO CORPORATION

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,157,495
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      3,972
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         227,633
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       291,262
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                   8,518
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,688,880
<COMMON>                                        45,064
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      111,879
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            284,284
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 441,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     13,415
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           120,233
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      241,682
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   45,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 827,323
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,688,880
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      629,225
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            26,375
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     532,935
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     532,935
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         96,290
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (757)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  96,080
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        21,309
<NET-INCOME>                                    74,771
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,510
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   46,886
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        28,883
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,882
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          70,538
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.02