Exhibit 12
Consolidated Natural Gas Company
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(millions of dollars)
| 9 Months Ended September 30, 2004 | 12 Months Ended September 30, 2004 | Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings, as defined: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Earnings before income taxes and minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries | $ | 928 | $ | 1,218 | $ | 1,022 | $ | 950 | $ | 604 | $ | 360 | $ | 210 | |||||||||||||
Distributed income from unconsolidated investees, less equity in earnings | (8 | ) | (10 | ) | (14 | ) | (16 | ) | (6 | ) | 13 | (12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Fixed charges included in the determination of net income | 138 | 180 | 169 | 168 | 170 | 184 | 149 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total earnings, as defined | $ | 1,058 | $ | 1,388 | $ | 1,177 | $ | 1,102 | $ | 768 | $ | 557 | $ | 347 | |||||||||||||
Fixed charges, as defined: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest charges | $ | 168 | $ | 223 | $ | 223 | $ | 227 | $ | 181 | $ | 173 | $ | 137 | |||||||||||||
Rental interest factor | 12 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fixed charges, as defined | $ | 180 | $ | 238 | $ | 236 | $ | 238 | $ | 192 | $ | 184 | $ | 149 | |||||||||||||
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 5.88 | 5.83 | 4.99 | 4.63 | 4.00 | 3.03 | 2.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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