Exhibit 12 Delmarva Power & Light Company Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ---------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) ---------------------- 12 Months Ended Year Ended December 31, September 30, --------------------------------------------------------- 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income (1) $114,426 $117,488 $108,310 $111,076 $98,526 $80,506 ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Income taxes (1) 74,882 75,540 67,613 67,102 54,834 43,249 ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Fixed charges: Interest on long-term debt 69,130 65,572 61,128 62,651 66,976 68,133 Other interest 11,950 10,353 9,336 9,245 8,449 10,192 ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges 81,080 75,925 70,464 71,896 75,425 78,325 ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Nonutility capitalized interest (309) (304) (256) (246) (231) (143) ------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges $270,079 $268,649 $246,131 $249,828 $228,554 $201,937 ============= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.33 3.54 3.49 3.47 3.03 2.58 For purposes of computing the ratio, earnings are net income plus income taxes and fixed charges, less nonutility capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest on long-and short-term debt, amortization of debt discount, premium, and expense, plus the interest factor associated with the Company's major leases, and one-third of the remaining annual rentals. (1) Net income and income taxes related to the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for unbilled revenues recorded in 1991 are excluded from the computation of this ratio. -26-