Exhibit 12
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
PLUS PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(in thousands)
12 Months Ended
___________________________________________________________________
December 31,
March 31, ______________________________________________________
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
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Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 78,452 $ 70,631 $ 81,913 $ 84,011 $ 72,601 $ 75,683
Add--Federal and state income taxes:
Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,359 41,276 38,097 50,441 6,110 36,316
Deferred (net). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,187 5,627 13,190 1,674 33,998 7,573
Investment tax credit amortization. . . . . . (3,358) (3,361) (3,367) (3,366) (3,336) (3,464)
Income tax applicable to nonoperating
activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 972 941 603 631 2,989 2,413
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51,160 44,483 48,523 49,380 39,761 42,838
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Net income before income taxes. . . . . . . . . 129,612 115,114 130,436 133,391 112,362 118,521
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Add--Fixed charges
Interest on long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . 31,302 31,168 31,164 32,823 35,534 36,652
Interest on provision for revenue refunds . . - - - - (803) 4,261
Other interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 902 853 358 479 392 1,231
Amortization of net debt premium and
discount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,710 1,703 1,678 1,598 863 338
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33,914 33,724 33,200 34,900 35,986 42,482
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Earnings as defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $163,526 $148,838 $163,636 $168,291 $148,348 $161,003
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. . . . . . . 4.82 4.41 4.93 4.82 4.12 3.79
Earnings required for preferred dividends:
Preferred stock dividends . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,821 $ 3,850 $ 3,510 $ 3,718 $ 4,549 $ 5,396
Adjustment to pre-tax basis*. . . . . . . . . 2,492 2,425 2,079 2,185 2,491 3,054
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$ 6,313 $ 6,275 $ 5,589 $ 5,903 $ 7,040 $ 8,450
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Fixed charges plus preferred stock
dividend requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 40,227 $ 39,999 $ 38,789 $ 40,803 $ 43,026 $ 50,932
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus
preferred stock dividend requirements . . . . 4.07 3.72 4.22 4.12 3.45 3.16
* An additional charge equivalent to earnings required to adjust
dividends on preferred stock to a pre-tax basis (See below.)
{ Net income before income taxes }
{ ______________________________ -100% } X preferred dividends = earnings
{ Net income } required for preferred dividends
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