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
                                   June 30,                      Year Ended December 31,                 
                                     1997        1996        1995        1994         1993         1992
                                                                               
Net Income . . . . . . . . . . .   $160,783    $168,950    $181,676    $187,447     $177,370     $127,884
Taxes on Income. . . . . . . . .     81,080      86,102      83,392      99,951       78,755       46,099
    Net Income Plus Taxes. . . .    241,863     255,052     265,068     287,398      256,125      173,983

Fixed Charges:
  Interest on Long-Term Debt . .    100,002     105,741      95,962      98,483      123,551      117,464
  Interest on Other Indebtedness     65,868      34,685      27,487      20,139       19,255       20,009
  Interest on Other Mandatorily
    Redeemable Securities. . . .     17,225      12,125         372        -            -            -   
  Interest on Corporate-owned
    Life Insurance Borrowings. .     33,663      35,151      32,325      26,932       16,252        5,294
  Interest Applicable to 
    Rentals. . . . . . . . . . .     32,927      32,965      31,650      29,003       28,827       27,429
      Total Fixed Charges. . . .    249,685     220,667     187,796     174,557      187,885      170,196

Preferred and Preference Dividend 
Requirements:
  Preferred and Preference
    Dividends. . . . . . . . . .     10,589      14,839      13,419      13,418       13,506       12,751
  Income Tax Required. . . . . .      5,340       7,562       6,160       7,155        5,997        4,596
      Total Preferred and Preference
    Dividend Requirements. . . .     15,929      22,401      19,579      20,573       19,503       17,347
    
Total Fixed Charges and Preferred
   and Preference Dividend
   Requirements. . . . . . . . .    265,614     243,068     207,375     195,130      207,388      187,543

Earnings (1) . . . . . . . . . .   $491,548    $475,719    $452,864    $461,955     $444,010     $344,179

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges     1.97        2.16        2.41        2.65         2.36         2.02
         

Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed
  Charges and Preferred and Preference
  Dividend Requirements. . . . .       1.85        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.