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.


  Three Months   Twelve Months
     Ended           Ended                Year Ended December 31,      
March 31, 1994  March 31, 1994     1993(1) 1992    1991   1990   1989

     3.37x            4.21x         3.98x  4.16x   3.66x  3.64x  3.67x


     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 and preferred stock dividend requirements.

                                                                       

(1)  Includes the effect  of the  non-recurring $10  million pretax  charge
     associated with a  coal pricing settlement as  discussed in Note D  on
     page 7.  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 year ended Dec. 31, 1993.