Western Massachusetts Electric 10-Q 2013 FY Quarterly report

Northeast Utilities and Subsidiaries												Exhibit 12
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Unaudited)
(Thousands of Dollars)		Nine Months
		Ended
		September 30,	For the Years Ended December 31,
		2013		2012 (a)		2011		2010		2009		2008
Earnings, as defined:
Net income	$	614,413	$	533,077	$	400,513	$	394,107	$	335,592	$	266,387
Income tax expense		325,442		274,926		170,953		210,409		179,947		105,661
Equity in earnings of regional nuclear
generating and transmission companies		(872)		(1,154)		(671)		(1,429)		(1,762)		(1,637)
Dividends received from regional equity investees		582		733		940		1,488		3,794		1,017
Fixed charges, as below		268,673		353,616		275,948		263,393		296,764		304,374
Less: Interest capitalized (including AFUDC)		(2,977)		(5,261)		(11,758)		(10,165)		(5,929)		(17,797)
Preferred dividend security requirements of
consolidated subsidiaries		(9,670)		(11,715)		(9,265)		(10,170)		(9,265)		(9,265)
Total earnings, as defined	$	1,195,591	$	1,144,222	$	826,660	$	847,633	$	799,141	$	648,740
Fixed charges, as defined:
Interest on long-term debt (b)	$	256,205	$	316,987	$	231,630	$	231,089	$	224,712	$	193,883
Interest on rate reduction bonds		422		6,168		8,611		20,573		36,524		50,231
Other interest (c)		(6,044)		6,790		10,184		(14,371)		12,401		25,031
Rental interest factor		5,443		6,695		4,500		5,767		7,933		8,167
Preferred dividend security requirements of
consolidated subsidiaries		9,670		11,715		9,265		10,170		9,265		9,265
Interest capitalized (including AFUDC)		2,977		5,261		11,758		10,165		5,929		17,797
Total fixed charges, as defined	$	268,673	$	353,616	$	275,948	$	263,393	$	296,764	$	304,374
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		4.45		3.24		3.00		3.22		2.69		2.13
(a) The 2013 results include the operations of NSTAR.  The 2012 results include the operations of NSTAR from the date of the merger, April 10, 2012, through December 31, 2012.
(b) Interest on long-term debt includes amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness.
(c) For all periods presented, other interest includes interest related to accounting for uncertain tax positions.