ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends (In Thousands Except Ratios) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended March 31, March 31, 1998 1997 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ ------ EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $ 4,645 $ 3,885 $ 21,665 $ 17,046 Federal income taxes 2,456 2,047 11,683 8,981 Interest charges 3,836 4,293 16,165 14,235 ------ ------ ------ ------ Earnings available to cover fixed charges $ 10,937 $ 10,225 $ 49,513 $ 40,262 ====== ====== ====== ====== FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS: Interest on long-term debt $ 3,624 $ 3,253 $ 14,401 $ 13,011 Preferred dividend requirement (1) 310 310 1,251 1,241 Other interest 206 986 1,602 3,218 Amortization of debt discount - net 97 89 384 363 ------ ------ ------ ------ Total fixed charges $ 4,237 $ 4,638 $ 17,638 $ 17,833 ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 2.58 2.20 2.81 2.26 ====== ====== ====== ====== (1) Preferred Dividend Requirement: Preferred dividends $ 203 $ 203 $ 813 $ 813 Effective tax rate 34.59% 34.51% 35.03% 34.51% Preferred dividend requirement $ 310 $ 310 $ 1,251 $ 1,241 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 2 ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (In Thousands Except Ratios) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended March 31, March 31, 1997 1996 1997 1996 EARNINGS: Income before preferred stock dividends $ 4,645 $ 3,885 $ 21,665 $ 17,046 Federal income taxes 2,456 2,047 11,683 8,981 Interest charges 3,836 4,293 16,165 14,235 ------ ------ ------- ------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $ 10,937 $ 10,225 $ 49,513 $ 40,262 ====== ====== ======= ======= FIXED CHARGES: Interest on long-term debt $ 3,624 $ 3,253 $ 14,401 $ 13,011 Other interest 206 986 1,602 3,218 Amortization of debt discount - net 97 89 384 363 ------ ------ ------- ------- Total fixed charges $ 3,927 $ 4,328 $ 16,387 $ 16,592 ====== ====== ======= ======= Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 2.79 2.36 3.02 2.43 ====== ====== ======= ======= Earnings to Fixed Charges 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 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 2 of 2