1 Exhibit 12 COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES Statements of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ($ in millions) Twelve Months Ended June 30, -------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 ----------------------- ----------------------- Consolidated Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations 416.4 359.7 Adjustments: Interest during construction (2.7) (2.6) Distributed (Undistributed) equity income (2.5) 2.7 Fixed charges * 175.1 181.8 ------- ------- Earnings Available 586.3 541.6 ------- ------- Fixed Charges: Interest on long-term and short-term debt 143.4 146.8 Other interest 13.9 15.8 Portion of rentals representing interest 17.8 19.2 ------- ------- Total Fixed Charges **, *** 175.1 181.8 ------- ------- Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.35 2.98 ======= ======= Twelve Months Ended December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------ Consolidated Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations 401.0 392.2 337.5 (643.0) 392.2 Adjustments: Interest during construction (2.1) (3.0) (1.1) (20.2) - Distributed (Undistributed) equity income (0.4) 3.6 1.5 (7.9) (0.9) Fixed charges * 173.1 182.0 184.6 1,061.3 33.7 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Earnings Available 571.6 574.8 522.5 390.2 425.0 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Fixed Charges: Interest on long-term and short-term debt 145.4 145.6 150.8 987.2 0.7 Other interest 9.6 15.4 13.5 53.6 14.1 Portion of rentals representing interest 18.1 21.0 20.3 20.5 18.9 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total Fixed Charges **, *** 173.1 182.0 184.6 1,061.3 33.7 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.30 3.16 2.83 N/A (a) 12.61 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= (a) To achieve a one-to-one coverage, the Corporation would need an additional $671.1 million of earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 1995. * Amounts for the twelve months ended December 31, 1994 through December 31, 1996 have been restated to conform to the 1999 presentation. ** This amount excludes approximately $230 million of interest expense not recorded for the twelve months ended December 31, 1994. This amount includes interest expense of $982.9 million including the write-off of unamortized discounts on debentures recorded in 1995. *** This amount excludes $8.6 million of interest expense not recorded with respect to the registrant's guarantee of LESOP Trust's debentures for the twelve months ended December 31, 1994.