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, 1999     December 31, 1998
                                    (In thousands of dollars)

Earnings Available for
 Fixed Charges:

Net Income per Consolidated
 Statements of Income              $ 29,035           $ 34,107

Income Taxes                         15,303             17,485
                                     44,338             51,592

Rents (a)                             1,789              1,749

Interest (b)                         33,155             31,587

Total Earnings Available
 for Fixed Charges                 $ 79,282           $ 84,928

Preferred Dividend Requirements    $    776           $    777

Ratio of Income Before Income
 Taxes to Net Income                   153%               151%

Preferred Dividend Factor on
 Pretax Basis                         1,187              1,173

Fixed Charges (c)                    34,944             33,336

Combined Fixed Charges and
 Preferred Stock Dividends         $ 36,131           $ 34,509

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
 Charges                               2.3x               2.5x

Ratio of Earnings to
  Combined Fixed Charges
  and Preferred Stock Dividends        2.2x               2.5x


(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.
     Also  includes  carrying  costs  associated  with  natural  gas
     available  under  a  repurchase  agreement  with  Frontier  Gas
     Storage   Company  as  more  fully  described   in   Notes   to
     Consolidated Financial Statements.

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