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
                            September 30, 1999     December 31, 1998
                                    (In thousands of dollars)


Earnings Available for
 Fixed Charges:

Net Income per Consolidated
 Statements of Income            $ 59,177              $  34,107

Income Taxes                       35,909                 17,485
                                   95,086                 51,592

Rents (a)                           1,947                  1,749

Interest (b)                       35,125                 31,587

Total Earnings Available
 for Fixed Charges               $132,158              $  84,928

Preferred Dividend Requirements  $    773              $     777

Ratio of Income Before Income
 Taxes to Net Income                 161%                   151%

Preferred Dividend Factor on
 Pretax Basis                       1,245                  1,173

Fixed Charges (c)                  37,072                 33,336

Combined Fixed Charges and
 Preferred Stock Dividends       $ 38,317              $  34,509

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
 Charges                             3.6x                   2.5x

Ratio of Earnings to
  Combined Fixed Charges
  and Preferred Stock Dividends      3.4x                   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.  In May 1999, the Company purchased the
     remaining natural gas subject to the repurchase commitment
     thereby extinguishing the repurchase commitment.

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