MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
       COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
    AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

                              Twelve Months          Year
                                  Ended             Ended
                              March 31, 2001  December 31, 2000
                                    (In thousands of dollars)


Earnings Available for
 Fixed Charges:

Net Income per Consolidated
 Statements of Income           $ 130,351          $ 111,028

Income Taxes                       82,975             69,650
                                  213,326            180,678

Rents (a)                           4,498              3,952

Interest (b)                       54,521             51,801

Total Earnings Available
 for Fixed Charges              $ 272,345          $ 236,431

Preferred Dividend Requirements $     766          $     766

Ratio of Income Before Income
 Taxes to Net Income                 164%               163%

Preferred Dividend Factor on
 Pretax Basis                       1,256              1,249

Fixed Charges (c)                  59,019             55,753

Combined Fixed Charges and
 Preferred Stock Dividends      $  60,275          $  57,002

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
 Charges                             4.6x               4.2x

Ratio of Earnings to
  Combined Fixed Charges
  and Preferred Stock Dividends      4.5x               4.1x


(a)  Represents  portion (33 1/3%) of rents which  is  estimated  to
     approximately  constitute the return to the  lessors  on  their
     investment in leased premises.

(b)  Represents interest and amortization of debt discount and
     expense on all indebtedness and excludes amortization of gains
     or losses on reacquired debt which, under the Uniform System of
     Accounts, is classified as a reduction of, or increase in,
     interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(c)  Represents rents and interest, both as defined above.