Exhibit 12(b) Gulf States Utilities Company Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends Twelve Months Ended December 31, 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Fixed charges, as defined: Interest on mortgage bonds $218,462 $201,335 $197,218 $172,494 $167,082 Interest on notes payable 24,295 8,446 - - 763 Interest on long-term debt - other 12,668 19,507 21,155 19,440 19,440 Other interest 18,380 29,169 26,564 10,561 7,957 Amortization of expense and premium on debt-net(cr) 2,192 1,999 3,479 8,104 8,892 Interest applicable to rentals 23,761 24,049 23,759 23,455 21,539 ------------------------------------------------ Total fixed charges, as defined 299,758 284,505 272,175 234,054 225,673 Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 104,484 90,146 69,617 65,299 52,210 ------------------------------------------------ Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $404,242 $374,651 $341,792 $299,353 $277,883 ================================================ Earnings as defined: Income (loss) from continuing operations before extrodinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes ($36,399) $112,391 $139,413 $69,462 ($82,755) Add: Income Taxes (24,216) 48,250 55,860 58,016 (62,086) Fixed charges as above 299,758 284,505 272,175 234,054 225,673 ------------------------------------------------ Total earnings, as defined $239,143 $445,146 $467,448 $361,532 $80,832 ================================================ Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 0.80 1.56 1.72 1.54 0.36 ================================================ Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined 0.59 1.19 1.37 1.21 0.29 ================================================ (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate. (b) Earnings for the year ended December 31, 1994 and 1990, for GSU were not adequate to cover fixed charges by $144.8 million and $60.6 million, respectively. Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1990, were not adequate to cover fixed charges and preferred dividends by $197.1 million and $165.1 million, respectively.