ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends Three Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $ 4,911,029 $ 5,719,990 Federal income taxes 2,603,070 3,032,439 Interest charges 3,057,782 2,880,513 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $10,571,881 $11,632,942 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS: Interest on long-term debt $ 3,252,420 $ 2,693,512 Preferred dividend requirement (1) 310,970 311,018 Other interest 752,755 648,538 Amortization of debt discount - net 88,139 80,889 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $ 4,404,284 $ 3,733,957 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 2.40 3.12 =========== =========== (1) Preferred Dividend Requirement: Preferred dividends $ 203,250 $ 203,250 Effective tax rate 34.64% 34.65% ----------- ----------- Preferred dividend requirement $ 310,970 $ 311,018 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stock Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges. Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), dividends on Preferred Stock on a pre-tax basis and Amortization of debt discount. Page 1 of 6 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $12,871,024 $13,749,845 Federal income taxes 6,794,819 7,264,137 Interest charges 8,852,291 8,323,952 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $28,518,134 $29,337,934 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS: Interest on long-term debt $ 9,758,674 $ 8,080,633 Preferred dividend requirement (1) 931,627 931,912 Other interest 1,713,088 1,688,643 Amortization of debt discount - net 264,417 242,667 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $12,667,806 $10,943,855 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 2.25 2.68 ========== ========== (1) Preferred Dividend Requirement: Preferred dividends $ 609,750 $ 609,750 Effective tax rate 34.55% 34.57% ----------- ----------- Preferred dividend requirement $ 931,627 $ 931,912 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stock Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges. Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), dividends on Preferred Stock on a pre-tax basis and Amortization of debt discount. Page 2 of 6 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends Twelve Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $16,446,323 $17,314,502 Federal income taxes 8,692,192 9,078,908 Interest charges 11,642,835 10,872,522 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $36,781,350 $37,265,932 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS: Interest on long-term debt $12,570,170 $10,774,190 Preferred dividend requirement (1) 1,242,739 1,231,753 Other interest 2,368,348 1,849,089 Amortization of debt discount - net 345,307 323,557 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $16,526,564 $14,178,589 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 2.23 2.63 =========== =========== (1) Preferred Dividend Requirement: Preferred dividends $ 813,000 $ 808,030 Effective tax rate 34.58% 34.40% ----------- ----------- Preferred dividend requirement $ 1,242,739 $ 1,231,753 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stock Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges. Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), dividends on Preferred Stock on a pre-tax basis and Amortization of debt discount. Page 3 of 6 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Three Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $ 4,911,029 $ 5,719,990 Federal income taxes 2,603,070 3,032,439 Interest charges 3,057,782 2,880,513 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $10,571,881 $11,632,942 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES: Interest on long-term debt $ 3,252,420 $ 2,693,512 Other interest 752,755 648,538 Amortization of debt discount - net 88,139 80,889 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $ 4,093,314 $ 3,422,939 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 2.58 3.40 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stoc Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges Fixed Charges consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), and Amortization of debt discount. Page 4 of 6 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $12,871,024 $13,749,845 Federal income taxes 6,794,819 7,264,137 Interest charges 8,852,291 8,323,952 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $28,518,134 $29,337,934 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES: Interest on long-term debt $ 9,758,674 $ 8,080,633 Other interest 1,713,088 1,688,643 Amortization of debt discount - net 264,417 242,667 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $11,736,179 $10,011,943 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 2.43 2.93 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stoc Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges Fixed Charges consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), and Amortization of debt discount. Page 5 of 6 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Twelve Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $16,446,323 $17,314,502 Federal income taxes 8,692,192 9,078,908 Interest charges 11,642,835 10,872,522 ----------- ----------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $36,781,350 $37,265,932 =========== =========== FIXED CHARGES: Interest on long-term debt $12,570,170 $10,774,190 Other interest 2,368,348 1,849,089 Amortization of debt discount - net 345,307 323,557 ----------- ----------- Total fixed charges $15,283,825 $12,946,836 =========== =========== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 2.41 2.88 =========== =========== Earnings to Fixed Charges represents the sum of Income Before Preferred Stoc Dividends, Federal income taxes and Interest Charges (which is reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), divided by Fixed Charges Fixed Charges consist of interest on long and short-term debt (which is not reduced by Allowance for Debt Funds Used During Construction), and Amortization of debt discount. 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