NiSource (NI) 10-K 2010 FY Annual report

Exhibit 12

NiSource Inc.

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	2010			2009			2008			2007			2006
Earnings as defined in item 503(d) of Regulation S-K:
Add:
Pretax income from continuing
Operations (b)	$	421,269,857		$	381,711,851		$	547,756,665		$	453,435,772		$	526,823,271
Fixed Charges		442,730,583			423,724,907			422,708,986			436,701,099			419,858,840
Amortization of capitalized interest (c)		-			-			-			-			-
Distributed income of equity investees		36,741,190			2,924,805			7,941,413			44,134,385			21,974,949
Share of pre-tax losses of equity investees for which charges arising guarantees are included in fixed charges		-			-			-			-			-
Deduct:
Interest capitalized (c)		-			-			-			-			-
Preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries (d)		-			-			-			-			1,670,297
Minority interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges		(11,762	)		(46,769	)		(5,307	)		(2,708	)		(5,443	)
	$	900,753,392		$	808,408,332		$	978,412,370		$	934,273,964		$	966,992,206
Fixed charges as defined in item 503(d) of Regulation S-K:
Interest on long-term debt	$	390,690,947		$	386,737,382		$	358,736,132		$	353,404,387		$	346,666,685
Other interest		22,851,904			5,268,937			37,561,475			58,214,067			45,638,785
Capitalized interest during period (c)
Amortization of premium, reacquisition premium, discount and expense on debt, net		10,287,487			13,020,255			7,682,146			7,284,066			7,654,771
Interest portion of rent expense		18,912,006			18,745,102			18,734,540			17,801,287			18,233,745
Minority Interest		(11,762	)		(46,769	)		(5,307	)		(2,708	)		(5,443	)
	$	442,730,583		$	423,724,907		$	422,708,986		$	436,701,099		$	418,188,543
Plus preferred stock dividends:
Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiary	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	1,076,298
Preferred dividend requirements factor		0.68			0.58			0.67			0.65			0.64
Preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries (d)		-			-			-			-			1,670,297
Fixed charges		442,730,583			423,724,907			422,708,986			436,701,099			418,188,543
	$	442,730,583		$	423,724,907		$	422,708,986		$	436,701,099		$	419,858,840
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		2.03			1.91			2.31			2.14			2.30

(a)	Income Statement amounts have been adjusted for discontinued operations.
(b)	Excludes adjustment for minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries or income or loss from equity investees.
(c)	NiSource is a public utility following SFAS 71 and therefore does not add amortization of capitalized interest or subtract interest capitalized in determining earnings, nor reduces fixed charges for Allowance for Funds Used During Construction.
(d)	Preferred dividends, as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one minus the effective income tax rate applicable to continuing operations.