• 2013 initial operational earnings guidance of $2.45 to $2.55 per diluted shares

• Five-year capital expenditure forecast provided for 2013 through 2017 

PINEVILLE, La. - Cleco Corporation (NYSE: CNL) today issued initial 2013 operational earnings guidance and outlined its five-year capital expenditure plan for 2013 through 2017.

 "We expect our full-year 2013 operational earnings to be in the range of $2.45 to $2.55 per diluted share," said Bruce Williamson, president and CEO of Cleco Corporation. "We expect 2013 to be a year of transition while we finalize the regulatory steps to transfer Coughlin to Cleco Power and prepare for the start of the contract to serve suburban Baton Rouge through DEMCO in early 2014. I am proud that in a year of limited rate base growth our continued focus on cost management allows us to announce an increase in earnings guidance of approximately 4.6 percent over our 2012 original earnings guidance.  

"We also have included for investors detailed information on our capital expenditures for the next five years. Our capital deployment plan strengthens our core assets, maintains system reliability and expands our investment base. Our solid cash flow provides funding for the plan and supports continued shareholder growth," said Williamson.  

2013 operational earnings guidance:

Cleco is initiating 2013 consolidated operational earnings guidance in the range of $2.45 to $2.55 per diluted share. The 2013 earnings guidance is based on normal weather and excludes adjustments related to life insurance policies. The effective tax rate assumed in the 2013 guidance is 31.5 percent.                                            

Capital expenditure forecast:

The preliminary capital spending plan for 2013 is $241 million, and 2013 through 2017 consists of about $734 million, including approximately $597 million of maintenance capital for Cleco Power and Cleco Midstream.  

An estimated $137 million will be used to meet the environmental requirements of the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule and other environmental improvements and complete an advanced metering upgrade project.

Management to meet with investors:

Members of Cleco's senior management team will answer questions on the information in this release and accompanying presentation materials during meetings with investors in New York and Boston Dec. 4-6, 2012.  The accompanying presentation materials, copies of which have been filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K, are available on Cleco's investor relations website at www.cleco.com/investors.