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.


  Nine Months   Twelve Months
     Ended          Ended                 Year Ended December 31,         
Sept. 30, 1998  Sept. 30, 1998     1997  1996(2)  1995(2)  1994(2)  1993(2)

    4.86x (1)       4.43x (1)     4.38x  4.40x    4.28x    3.88x(3) 3.81x(4)


     For  the  purposes  of  calculating  these ratios, 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 $9.6-million pretax charge associated with
     Tampa Electric's efforts to mitigate the effects of a 1997 FPSC ruling
     on certain wholesale power supply contracts. The effect of this charge
     was  to reduce the ratio of earnings to fixed charges. Had this charge
     been  excluded  from  the  calculation, the ratio of earnings to fixed
     charges  would  have  been  5.05x and 4.57x for the nine- and 12-month
     periods ended Sept. 30, 1998, respectively.

(2)  Amounts  have  been  restated  to  reflect  the  merger of Peoples Gas
     System, Inc., with and into Tampa Electric Company.

(3)  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
     4.23x for the year ended Dec. 31, 1994.

(4)  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 3.97x for the year ended
     Dec. 31, 1993.








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