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,
June 30, 1999   June 30, 1999      1998    1997   1996(2)  1995(2)  1994(2)

    4.50x           4.65x(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 4.76x for the 12-month period ended June 30,
     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
     4.66x 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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