Exhibit 12(a)
THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Dollars in Thousands)
TWELVE MONTHS
ENDED
JUNE 30, 1996
-------------
Net Income . . . . $ 69,192
33,807
Income Taxes . . . --------
$102,999
--------
Fixed Charges:
Interest . . . . $ 48,255
Amortization of
Debt Discount,
Expense and
Premium . . . . 1,567
34,925
Rentals . . . . . --------
$ 84,747
--------
Earnings Before
Income Taxes and $187,746
Fixed Charges . . ========
Ratio of Earnings to 2.22X
Fixed Charges . . ========
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Net Income . . . $ 59,053 $115,963 $107,196 $107,065 $105,715
21,573 53,152 54,120 45,639 50,394
Income Taxes . . -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 80,626 $169,115 $161,316 $152,704 $156,109
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Fixed Charges:
Interest . . . $ 47,330 $ 44,096 $ 48,142 $ 48,810 $ 52,836
Amortization of
Debt Discount,
Expense and
Premium . . . 1,567 1,666 1,768 1,878 1,245
35,300 36,586 36,631 36,905 37,638
Rentals . . . . -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 84,197 $ 82,348 $ 86,541 $ 87,593 $ 91,719
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings Before
Income Taxes and $164,823 $251,463 $247,857 $240,297 $247,828
Fixed Charges . ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Ratio of Earnings 1.96X 3.05X 2.86X 2.74X 2.70X
to Fixed Charges ======== ======== ======== ======== ========