<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23(a)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 31, 2000 relating to the
financial statements, which appear in Cleco Utility Group Inc.'s Registration
Statement on Form 10 for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to
the references to us under the headings "Experts" in such Registration
Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana
December 21, 2000
