(Source: MARKETWIRE)

Cleco Corp. (NYSE: CNL) claimed this year's Edison Electric
Institute (EEI) Index Award for exceptional shareholder return in the
small market capitalization category. The company showed a 76.3
percent return for the five-year period ending Sept. 30, 2009.
"This award is a testament to the skill and commitment level of our
employees, who remained focused on achieving strategic goals," said
Cleco President and CEO Mike Madison, who accepted the award at the
44th EEI Financial Conference Nov. 2 in Florida. "One major strategic
goal is the construction of the largest power generator in our
company's history, which at its completion will double our rate base.
This will allow us to continue to provide outstanding returns to our
shareholders and to reduce our average customer's bill."
The EEI Index is a peer group index that values total return on
member electric utilities, providing a benchmark for long-term
financial performance.
According to EEI president Tom Kuhn, "Not only is Cleco's five-year
achievement impressive, but the company's unique track record of five
consecutive years with positive returns also sends a message of
consistency to investors." The EEI is an association of US
shareholder-owned electric companies which represents approximately
70 percent of the US electric power industry.
Cleco Corp. is a regional energy company headquartered in Pineville,
La. It operates a regulated electric utility company that serves
276,000 customers across Louisiana. Cleco also operates a wholesale
energy business with approximately 1,350 megawatts of nameplate
generating capacity. For more information about Cleco, visit
www.cleco.com.
Investor Contacts:
Cleco Corp.
R. Russell Davis
(318) 484-7501
Rodney J. Hamilton
(318) 484-7593
Media Contact:
Cleco Corp.
Tatum L. Dutile
(318) 484-7174
SOURCE: Cleco Corp.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.