Exhibit 12


                        WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.
        Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
      Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
          and Preferred and Preference Dividend Requirements
                        (Dollars in Thousands)


                                  Unaudited
                                    Twelve 
                                    Months
                                    Ended
                                   March 31,                      Year Ended December 31,                 

                                     1997       1996         1995       1994         1993         1992
                                                                               
Net Income . . . . . . . . . . .   $165,194   $168,950     $181,676    $187,447     $177,370     $127,884
Taxes on Income. . . . . . . . .     83,240     86,102       83,392      99,951       78,755       46,099 
     Net Income Plus Taxes. . . .   248,434    255,052      265,068     287,398      256,125      173,983 
   

Fixed Charges:
  Interest on Long-Term Debt . .    103,037    105,741       95,962      98,483      123,551      117,464 
  Interest on Other Indebtedness     50,665     34,685       27,487      20,139       19,255       20,009 
  Interest on Other Mandatorily
    Redeemable Securities. . . .     14,675     12,125          372        -            -            -    
  Interest on Corporate-owned
    Life Insurance Borrowings. .     33,586     35,151       32,325      26,932       16,252        5,294
  Interest Applicable to 
    Rentals. . . . . . . . . . .     32,947     32,965       31,650      29,003       28,827       27,429 
      Total Fixed Charges. . . .    234,910    220,667      187,796     174,557      187,885      170,196 
  
Preferred and Preference Dividend 
Requirements:
  Preferred and Preference
    Dividends. . . . . . . . . .     12,714     14,839       13,419      13,418       13,506       12,751 
  Income Tax Required. . . . . .      6,406      7,562        6,160       7,155        5,997        4,596 
    Total Preferred and Preference
    Dividend Requirements. . . .     19,120     22,401       19,579      20,573       19,503       17,347 
  
Total Fixed Charges and Preferred
   and Preference Dividend
   Requirements. . . . . . . . .    254,030    243,068      207,375     195,130      207,388      187,543 

Earnings (1) . . . . . . . . . .   $483,344   $475,719     $452,864    $461,955     $444,010     $344,179 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges     2.06       2.16         2.41        2.65         2.36         2.02 
       

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed
  Charges and Preferred and Preference
  Dividend Requirements. . . . .       1.90       1.96         2.18        2.37         2.14         1.84 
       


                                
(1)  Earnings are deemed to consist of net income to which has been added income taxes (including
     net deferred investment tax credit) and fixed charges.  Fixed charges consist of all interest
     on indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and expense, and the portion of rental expense
     which represents an interest factor.  Preferred and preference dividend requirements consist
     of an amount equal to the pre-tax earnings which would be required to meet dividend
     requirements on preferred and preference stock.