Exhibit 12
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
----------------------------------------
1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(Thousands of Dollars)
Income before interest
charges and the cumulative
effect of change in
accounting $39,428 $38,611 $41,380 $33,888 $34,616
Add: Taxes based on
utility income 9,878 12,517 14,997 8,272 10,795
Taxes based on
miscellaneous income 252 121 1,068 172 281
One third of applicable
rentals charged to
operating expense
(which approximates the
interest factor) 288 287 284 279 269
-------------------------------------------
Total Earnings $49,846 $51,536 $57,729 $42,611 $45,961
===========================================
Interest on long-term debt $12,544 $12,626 $14,415 $13,803 $13,062
Other interest 5,983 3,768 1,798 1,811 1,524
One-third of applicable rentals
charged to operating expense
(which approximates the
interest factor) 288 287 284 279 269
-------------------------------------------
Total Fixed Charges $18,815 $16,681 $16,497 $15,893 $14,855
===========================================
Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges 2.65 3.09 3.50 2.68 3.09
88