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, 1999  March 31, 1999     1998    1997   1996(2)  1995(2)  1994(2)

    4.37x           4.64x(1)     4.51x(3) 4.38x   4.40x   4.28x   3.88x(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  fourth  quarter 1998 $7.3-million pretax
     charge  at  the  Electric division associated with a regulatory ruling
     denying  recovery  of  coal expenses over an established benchmark for
     coal purchases from an affiliate since 1992. 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 4.75x for the 12-month period ended March 31, 
     1999.

(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 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.

(4)  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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