Exhibit 12.1 1/26/97 MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the the six years ended December 31, 1996 Year ended December 31, ============================================================================ 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 -------------------------------Thousands of Dollars------------------------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Income Before Interest Charges $ 56,740 $ 63,772 $ 67,726 $ 76,067 $ 82,765 $ 80,523 Federal and state income taxes 22,938 23,278 18,787 30,050 35,972 33,477 Deferred income taxes, net (11,869) (5,473) 5,039 1,563 (480) 74 Deferred investment tax credits (2) - - - - - AFUDC - Debt funds 584 563 788 1,039 399 713 ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- Earnings as defined $ 68,391 $ 82,140 $ 92,340 $ 108,719 $ 118,656 $114,787 ========== ========= ========== ========== ========== ========= FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K: Interest on long-term debt $ 23,973 $ 22,357 $ 17,688 $ 19,725 $ 21,898 $ 19,898 Interest on interim obligations 1,512 362 1,000 1,442 1,141 1,416 Amort of debt disc, premium and expense, net 377 630 1,262 1,479 1,510 1,546 Other interest charges 286 339 728 404 1,185 753 ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- Fixed charges as defined $ 26,148 $ 23,688 $ 20,678 $ 23,050 $ 25,734 $ 23,613 ========== ========= ========== ========== ========== ========= RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 2.62 3.47 4.47 4.72 4.61 4.86