Exhibit 12.1 ALABAMA POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the five years ended December 31, 2001 and the year to date September 30, 2002 Year ended December 31, - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 2000 ---- ---- ---- ---- -----------------------Thousands of Dollars------------------------ EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes $ 840,108 $ 896,380 $ 903,557 $ 962,223 AFUDC - Debt funds 4,855 4,664 11,010 20,197 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings as defined $ 844,963 $ 901,044 $ 914,567 $ 982,420 - ------------------------------------------------------------==============-----=============-----=============-----============ FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 169,536 $ 194,559 $ 193,968 $ 222,530 Interest on affiliated loans Interest on interim obligations 22,787 11,012 9,865 10,759 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 9,657 42,506 11,171 11,668 Other interest charges 42,381 40,445 39,819 38,661 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fixed charges as defined $ 244,361 $ 288,522 $ 254,823 $ 283,618 - ------------------------------------------------------------==============-----=============-----=============-----============ RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 3.46 3.12 3.59 3.46 ===== ===== ===== ===== Nine Months Ended Year ended December 31, September 30, - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2001 2002 ---- ---- -------- Thousands of dollars------------ EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Earnings Before Interest and Income Taxes $ 925,031 $ 836,562 AFUDC - Debt funds 9,569 5,176 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings as defined $ 934,600 $ 841,738 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------============-----============ FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 220,627 $ 157,006 Interest on affiliated loans 725 Interest on interim obligations 14,638 1,149 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 11,740 9,355 Other interest charges 35,129 24,704 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fixed charges as defined $ 282,134 $ 192,939 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------============-----============ RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 3.31 4.36 ===== ===== Note: The above figures have been adjusted to give effect to ALABAMA Power Company's 50% ownership of Southern Electric Generating Company.