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 December 31,           
             1998       1997    1996(2)  1995(2)  1994(2)

            4.51x(1)   4.38x   4.40x     4.28x   3.88x(3)


     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 one-time, pretax charges totaling $16.9
     million.  The  effect of these charges was to reduce the ratio of
     earnings  to  fixed charges. Had these charges been excluded from
     the  calculation,  the  ratio  of earnings to fixed charges would
     have been 4.77x for the year ended Dec. 31, 1998.

(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.






















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