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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UIZ6MMkNQXZKLD2GJJUnou4lL06WznSNlTGzc929Xrh3s8YVIk+HQjlvviVThDN1
 U0MapAjdm9rAJR6rznLIFQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001186064-03-000001.txt : 20030729
<SEC-HEADER>0001186064-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030729132325
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001186064-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLECO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089819
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				721445282
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2020 DONAHUE FERRY ROAD
		CITY:			PINEVILLE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71360-5226
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3184847400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			PINEVILLE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71361-5000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CLECO HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RATCLIFF ROBERT T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186064

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15759
		FILM NUMBER:		03808021

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PINEVILLE GENERAL OFFICE
		STREET 2:		2030 DONAHUE FERRY RD PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			PINEVILLE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71361-5000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4rtr_072503.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089819</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLECO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cnl</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RATCLIFF ROBERT T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 5000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PINEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>71361-5000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Outside Director Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $
1.00 par</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19168</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Right to buy granted under the Company's 2000 Long-term Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">No cost to optionee upon grant of options.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kathleen F. Nolen, Atty-in-Fact for Robert T. Ratcliff</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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