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CLECO CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	72-1445282 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, Louisiana (Address of principal executive offices)	71360-5226 (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (318) 484-7400

__________________

Commission file number 1-05663

CLECO POWER LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	72-0244480 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, Louisiana (Address of principal executive offices)	71360-5226 (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (318) 484-7400
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants: (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrants were required to file such reports) and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes x     No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( § 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrants were required to submit and post such files).  Yes x     No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether Cleco Corporation is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):   Large accelerated filer x            Accelerated filer ¨                  Non-accelerated filer ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)            Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether Cleco Power LLC is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one): Large accelerated filer ¨            Accelerated filer ¨                  Non-accelerated filer x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)            Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  Yes ¨     No x

Number of shares outstanding of each of Cleco Corporation’s classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Registrant	Description of Class		Shares Outstanding at October 28, 2011
Cleco Corporation	Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value			60,665,607

Cleco Power LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation, meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this Form 10-Q with the reduced disclosure format.

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CLECO CORPORATION
CLECO POWER	2011 3RD QUARTER FORM 10-Q

 

 

This Combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is separately filed by Cleco Corporation and Cleco Power.  Information in this filing relating to Cleco Power is filed by Cleco Corporation and separately by Cleco Power on its own behalf.  Cleco Power makes no representation as to information relating to Cleco Corporation (except as it may relate to Cleco Power) or any other affiliate or subsidiary of Cleco Corporation.

This report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each respective Registrant.  The Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are combined.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

			PAGE
GLOSSARY OF TERMS			3
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			5
PART I	Financial Information
ITEM 1.	Cleco Corporation — Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
	Cleco Power — Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	16
	Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	23
ITEM 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	47
ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	64
ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures	66
PART II	Other Information
ITEM 1.	Legal Proceedings	67
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	67
ITEM 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	67
ITEM 5.	Other Information	67
ITEM 6.	Exhibits	68
	Signatures	69

 

 

 

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CLECO CORPORATION
CLECO POWER	2011 3RD QUARTER FORM 10-Q

 

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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References in this filing, including all items in Parts I and II, to “Cleco” mean Cleco Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Cleco Power, and references to “Cleco Power” mean Cleco Power LLC and its subsidiaries, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.  Additional abbreviations or acronyms used in this filing, including all items in Parts I and II are defined below:

ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM	DEFINITION
401(k) Plan	Cleco Power 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan
ABR	Alternate Base Rate
Acadia	Acadia Power Partners, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of APH.  Acadia no longer owns any materials and supply inventory, property, plant and equipment, or land as a result of the disposition of Acadia Unit 2 to Entergy Louisiana on April 29, 2011.  From February 23, 2010 to April 29, 2011, Acadia was owned 100% by Cajun and consisted of Acadia Unit 2.  Prior to February 23, 2010, Acadia was 50% owned by APH and 50% owned by Cajun and consisted of Acadia Unit 1 and Acadia Unit 2.
Acadia Unit 1	Cleco Power’s 580-MW unit, combined cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located at the Acadia Power Station near Eunice, Louisiana
Acadia Unit 2	Entergy Louisiana’s 580-MW unit, combined cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located at the Acadia Power Station near Eunice, Louisiana.  Prior to April 29, 2011, Acadia Unit 2 was owned by Acadia.
Acadiana Load Pocket	An area in south central Louisiana that has experienced transmission constraints caused by local load and lack of generation.  Transmission within the Acadiana Load Pocket is owned by several entities, including Cleco Power.
AFUDC	Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
Amended EPC Contract	Amended and Restated EPC Contract between Cleco Power and Shaw, executed on May 12, 2006, for engineering, procurement, and construction of Madison Unit 3, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto effective March 9, 2007, Amendment No. 2 thereto dated as of July 2, 2008, Amendment No. 3 thereto dated as of July 22, 2009, and Amendment No. 4 thereto dated October 19, 2009.
Amended Lignite Mining Agreement	Amended and restated lignite mining agreement effective December 29, 2009
AMI	Advanced Metering Infrastructure
APH	Acadia Power Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream
Attala	Attala Transmission LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation
Cajun	Cajun Gas Energy L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of third parties.  In conjunction with the disposition of Acadia Unit 2 on April 29, 2011, APH no longer has any ownership interest in Cajun.  From February 23, 2010 to April 29, 2011, Cajun was 50% owned by APH and 50% owned by third parties.  Prior to February 23, 2010, Cajun was 100% owned by third parties.
Cleco Innovations LLC	A wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation
Cleco Katrina/Rita	Cleco Katrina/Rita Hurricane Recovery Funding LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Power
Coughlin	Coughlin Power Station, a combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.  On June 11, 2010, Evangeline Power Station was renamed Coughlin Power Station.
DHLC	Dolet Hills Lignite Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SWEPCO
Diversified Lands	Diversified Lands LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Innovations LLC
DOE	United States Department of Energy
Entergy Gulf States	Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., formerly Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Louisiana, LLC
Entergy Mississippi	Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Entergy Services	Entergy Services, Inc., as agent for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States
EPA	United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPC	Engineering, Procurement, and Construction
ESPP	Cleco Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Evangeline	Cleco Evangeline LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Midstream, and its combined cycle, natural gas-fired power plant located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.  On June 11, 2010, the power plant was renamed Coughlin Power Station.
Evangeline 2010 Tolling Agreement	Capacity Sale and Tolling Agreement between Evangeline and JPMVEC, which was executed in February 2010
Evangeline Restructuring Agreement	Purchase, Sale and Restructuring Agreement entered into on February 22, 2010, by Evangeline and JPMVEC
Evangeline Tolling Agreement	Capacity Sale and Tolling Agreement between Evangeline and BE Louisiana LLC (as successor to Williams Power Company, Inc.) which was set to expire in 2020 and was terminated in February 2010.  In September 2008, BE Louisiana LLC was merged into JPMVEC.
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC	Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FRP	Formula Rate Plan
GAAP	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States
GO Zone	Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-135)
ICT	Independent Coordinator of Transmission
Interconnection Agreement	One of two Interconnection Agreement and Real Estate Agreements, one between Attala and Entergy Mississippi, and the other between Perryville and Entergy Louisiana
IRP	Integrated Resource Planning
IRS	Internal Revenue Service
JPMVEC	J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation.  In September 2008, BE Louisiana LLC was merged into JPMVEC.
kWh	Kilowatt-hour(s) as applicable
LIBOR	London Inter-Bank Offer Rate
Lignite Mining Agreement	Dolet Hills Mine Lignite Mining Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2001

 

 

 

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CLECO CORPORATION
CLECO POWER	2011 3RD QUARTER FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

ABBREVIATION OR ACRONYM	DEFINITION
LPSC	Louisiana Public Service Commission
LTICP	Cleco Corporation Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan
Madison Unit 3	A 600-MW solid-fuel generating unit at Cleco Power’s plant site in Boyce, Louisiana that commenced commercial operation on February 12, 2010.  Prior to June 11, 2010, Madison Unit 3 was known as Rodemacher Unit 3.
Midstream	Cleco Midstream Resources LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation
MMBtu	Million British thermal units
Moody’s	Moody’s Investors Service
MW	Megawatt(s) as applicable
NERC	North American Electric Reliability Corporation
OCI	Other Comprehensive Income
NO x	Nitrogen oxides
Oxbow	Oxbow Lignite Company, LLC, 50% owned by Cleco Power and 50% owned by SWEPCO
PCAOB	Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
PCB	Polychlorinated biphenyl
Perryville	Perryville Energy Partners, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation
Power Purchase Agreement	Power Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2004, between Perryville and Entergy Services
PPACA	Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (HR 3590)
PRP	Potentially responsible party
Registrant(s)	Cleco Corporation and Cleco Power
RFP	Request for Proposal
Sale Agreement	Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2004, between Perryville and Entergy Louisiana
SEC	Securities and Exchange Commission
SERP	Cleco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Shaw	Shaw Contractors, Inc., a subsidiary of The Shaw Group Inc.
SO 2	Sulfur dioxide
SPP	Southwest Power Pool
Support Group	Cleco Support Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleco Corporation
SWEPCO	Southwestern Electric Power Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, Inc.
Teche	Teche Electric Cooperative, Inc.
VaR	Value-at-risk
VIE	Variable Interest Entity

 

 

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CLECO CORPORATION
CLECO POWER	2011 3RD QUARTER FORM 10-Q

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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This Combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” about future events, circumstances, and results.  All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Combined Quarterly Report are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding Madison Unit 3; JPMVEC’s performance under the Evangeline 2010 Tolling Agreement; future capital expenditures; projections, including with respect to base revenue; business strategies; goals, beliefs, plans, and objectives; competitive strengths; market developments; development and operation of facilities; growth in sales volume; meeting capacity requirements, including through RFPs; expansion of service to certain customers and service to new customers; future environmental regulations and remediation liabilities; electric customer credits; and the anticipated outcome of various regulatory and legal proceedings.  Although the Registrants believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions (some of which may prove to be incorrect) and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the Registrants’ expectations.  In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with these forward-looking statements, the following list identifies some of the factors that could cause the Registrants’ actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any of the Registrants’ forward-looking statements:

 

§

Factors affecting utility operations, such as unusual weather conditions or other natural phenomena; catastrophic weather-related damage (such as hurricanes and other storms or severe drought conditions); unscheduled generation outages; unanticipated maintenance or repairs; unanticipated changes to fuel costs; fuel supply costs or availability constraints due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems, or other developments; fuel mix of Cleco’s generation facilities; decreased customer load; environmental incidents; environmental compliance costs; and power transmission system constraints;

 

§	Cleco Corporation’s holding company structure and its dependence on the earnings, dividends, or distributions from its subsidiaries to meet its debt obligations and pay dividends on its common stock;

 

§	Cleco Power’s ability to operate and maintain, within its projected costs, any self-build projects identified in future IRP and RFP processes and its participation in any government grants;

 

§	Dependence of Cleco Power for energy from sources other than its facilities and the uncertainty of future sources of such additional energy;

 

§	Nonperformance by and creditworthiness of counterparties under tolling and power purchase agreements, or the restructuring of those agreements, including possible termination;

 

§	Nonperformance by and creditworthiness of the guarantor counterparty of the U.S. Bank New Markets Tax Credit Fund 2008-1 LLC;

 

§

Regulatory factors such as changes in rate-setting policies, recovery of investments made under traditional regulation, recovery of storm restoration costs, the frequency and timing of rate increases or decreases, the results of periodic NERC audits and fuel audits, the formation of ICTs, and the compliance with the Electric Reliability Organization reliability standards for bulk power systems by Cleco Power and Evangeline;

 

§	Financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies imposed by FASB, the SEC, the PCAOB, FERC, the LPSC, or similar entities with regulatory or accounting oversight;

 

§	Economic conditions, including the ability of customers to continue paying for utility bills, related growth and/or down-sizing of businesses in Cleco’s service area, monetary fluctuations, changes in commodity prices, and inflation rates;

 

§	The current global and U.S. economic environment;

 

§	Credit ratings of Cleco Corporation and Cleco Power;

 

§	Ability to remain in compliance with debt covenants;

 

§	Changes in market conditions and a variety of other factors associated with physical energy, financial transactions, and energy service activities, including, but not limited to, price, basis, credit, liquidity, volatility, capacity, transmission, interest rates, and warranty risks;

 

§	The availability and use of alternative sources of energy and technologies;

 

§	The imposition of energy efficiency requirements or of increased conservation efforts of customers;

 

§	Reliability of all Cleco Power and Midstream generating facilities, particularly Madison Unit 3;

 

§	Acts of terrorism or other man-made disasters;

 

§	Availability or cost of capital resulting from changes in Cleco’s business or financial condition, interest rates, or market perceptions of the electric utility industry and energy-related industries;

 

§	Uncertain tax positions;

 

§	Employee work force factors, including work stoppages and changes in key executives;

 

§	Legal, environmental, and regulatory delays and other obstacles associated with mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, investments in joint ventures, or other capital projects, including the joint project to upgrade the Acadiana Load Pocket transmission system, and the AMI project;

 

§	Costs and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations, claims, and other matters;

 

 

 

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CLECO CORPORATION
CLECO POWER	2011 3RD QUARTER FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

§	Changes in federal, state, or local laws, and changes in tax laws or rates, or regulating policies;

 

§

The impact of current or future environmental laws and regulations, including those related to greenhouse gases and energy efficiency, which could limit, or terminate, the operation of certain generating units, increase costs, reduce customer demand for electricity or otherwise materially adversely impact the Registrants’ financial condition or results of operations;

 

§	Ability of Cleco Power to recover from its customers the costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations; and

 

§	Ability of the Dolet Hills lignite reserve to provide sufficient fuel to the Dolet Hills Power Station until at least 2026.

 

For additional discussion of these factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the Registrants’ forward-looking statements, please read “Risk Factors” in the Registrants’ Combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011, and the Combined Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Registrants or persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors identified above.

The Registrants undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes in actual results, changes in assumptions, or other factors affecting such statements.