Exhibit 12
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
PLUS PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(in thousands)
12 Months Ended
______________________________________________________________________________
December 31,
September 30, ____________________________________________________________
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
_____________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________
Net income..................................... $ 70,658 $ 70,631 $ 81,913 $ 84,011 $ 72,601 $ 75,683
Add--Federal and state income taxes:
Current....................................... 47,539 41,276 38,097 50,441 6,110 36,316
Deferred (net)............................... 2,181 5,627 13,190 1,674 33,998 7,573
Investment tax credit amortization.......... (3,352) (3,361) (3,367) (3,366) (3,336) (3,464)
Income tax applicable to nonoperating
activities................................ (1,401) 941 603 631 2,989 2,413
_______ _______ ________ ________ ________ ________
44,967 44,483 48,523 49,380 39,761 42,838
_______ _______ ________ ________ ________ ________
Net income before income taxes.............. 115,625 115,114 130,436 133,391 112,362 118,521
_______ _______ ________ ________ ________ ________
Add--Fixed charges
Interest on long-term debt................. 31,409 31,168 31,164 32,823 35,534 36,652
Interest on provision for revenue refunds.. - - - - (803) 4,261
Other interest............................... 3,354 853 358 479 392 1,231
Amortization of net debt premium and
discount.................................. 1,718 1,703 1,678 1,598 863 338
_______ _______ ________ ________ ________ ________
36,481 33,724 33,200 34,900 35,986 42,482
_______ _______ ________ ________ ________ ________
Earnings as defined.......................... $152,106 $148,838 $163,636 $168,291 $148,348 $161,003
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.......... 4.17 4.41 4.93 4.82 4.12 3.79
Earnings required for preferred dividends:
Preferred stock dividends..................... $ 3,748 $ 3,850 $ 3,510 $ 3,718 $ 4,549 $ 5,396
Adjustment to pre-tax basis*............... 2,385 2,425 2,079 2,185 2,491 3,054
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$ 6,133 $ 6,275 $ 5,589 $ 5,903 $ 7,040 $ 8,450
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Fixed charges plus preferred stock
dividend requirements........................ $ 42,614 $ 39,999 $ 38,789 $ 40,803 $ 43,026 $ 50,932
======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus
preferred stock dividend requirements...... 3.57 3.72 4.22 4.12 3.45 3.16
* An additional charge equivalent to earnings required to adjust
dividends on preferred stock to a pre-tax basis (See below.)
{ Net income before income taxes }
{ ______________________________ -100% } X preferred dividends = earnings required for preferred dividends
{ Net income }
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