FORM 10-Q

                                                                    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.




  Six Months        Twelve Months
     Ended              Ended                 Year Ended December 31,
                                                   (1)    (2)
June 30, 1996       June 30, 1996      1995    1994    1993    1992    1991

    4.00x               4.41x          4.50x   4.11x   3.98x   4.16x   3.66x
  

      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 a $21.3-million pretax restructuring charge.  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.    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.










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