EXHIBIT 12


                           TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY
                     RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The  following  table  sets  forth the company's ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated.

Year ended Dec. 31,          1994     1993    1992   1991    1990
                           4.11x(1)  3.98x(2)  4.16x  3.66x   3.64x

For  the  purposes  of  calculating  this ratio, earnings consist of income
before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on
indebtedness,  amortization  of  debt  premium,  the  interest component of
rentals, deferred interest costs and preferred stock dividend requirements.
__________________

(1)  Includes the effect of restructuring charge of $21.3 million pretax as
discussed in Note F on page 31. The effect of this charge was to reduce the
ratio  of  earnings  to  fixed  charges. Had this non-recurring charge been
excluded from the calculation, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would
have been 4.52x for the period ended Dec. 31, 1994.  

(2)Includes  the  effect  of  the  non-recurring  $10 million pretax charge
associated  with  a  coal pricing settlement as discussed in Note A on page
26.  The effect of this charge was to reduce the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges.  Had this non-recurring charge been excluded from the calculation,
the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 4.17x for the period
ended Dec. 31, 1993. 























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