EXHIBIT 12 INDIANA GAS COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (In Thousands, Except Ratios) Fiscal Year Ended September 30 Twelve Mos. Ended 3/31/98(1) 1997(1) 1996 1995 1994 1993 Earnings: Net income $ 9,767 $13,478 $38,630 $32,109 $34,596 $28,534 Income taxes 4,868 7,147 22,568 18,630 17,977 16,030 Fixed charges (see below) 17,529 17,728 16,844 16,395 16,986 17,556 Total adjusted earnings $32,164 $38,353 $78,042 $67,134 $69,559 $62,120 Fixed charges: Total interest expense $16,796 $16,774 $15,907 $15,530 $16,037 $16,640 Interest component of rents 733 954 937 865 949 916 Total fixed charges $17,529 $17,728 $16,844 $16,395 $16,986 $17,556 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 1.8 2.2 4.6 4.1 4.1 3.5 (1) Reflects the recording of restructuring costs during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 (see Note 2). Before restructuring costs, Indiana Gas' ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the twelve months ended March 31, 1998, and the twelve months ended September 30, 1997 were 4.1 and 4.4, respectively.