EXHIBIT 12 (A)
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PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
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COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
12 Months
Ended
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, September
30,
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1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
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Earnings as Defined in
Regulation S-K (A):
Net Income (B) $617 $535 $528 $602 $653 $620
Income Taxes (C) 326 268 256 404 510 450
Fixed Charges 419 438 450 446 450 404
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Earnings $1,362 $1,241 $1,234 $1,452 $1,613 $1,474
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Fixed Charges as Defined in
Regulation S-K (D):
Total Interest Expense $407 $399 $395 $390 $394 $348
Interest Factor in Rentals 12 11 11 11 10 10
Subsidiaries' Preferred Securities
Dividend Requirements -- 28 44 45 46 46
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Total Fixed Charges $419 $438 $450 $446 $450 $404
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.25 2.83 2.74 3.27 3.58 3.65
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<FN>
(A) The term "earnings" shall be defined as pretax income from continuing
operations. Add to pretax income the amount of fixed charges adjusted to
exclude (a) the amount of any interest capitalized during the period and
(b) the actual amount of any preferred stock dividend requirements of
majority-owned subsidiaries which were included in such fixed charges
amount but not deducted in the determination of pretax income.
(B) Excludes extraordinary item.
(C) Includes State income taxes and Federal income taxes for other income and
excludes taxes applicable to extraordinary item.
(D) Fixed Charges represent (a) interest, whether expensed or capitalized, (b)
amortization of debt discount, premium and expense, (c) an estimate of
interest implicit in rentals, and (d) Preferred Securities Dividend
Requirements of subsidiaries.
</FN>