. . . Exhibit (12)(a) CMS ENERGY CORPORATION Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Millions of Dollars) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 ------------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ (b) (c) (d) (e) Earnings as defined (a) Pretax income from continuing operations $ 339 $ 137 $ 16 $ (433) $ (428) $ (1) Exclude equity basis subsidiaries (2) (88) (41) (39) 68 (171) Fixed charges as defined, adjusted to exclude capitalized interest of $1, $(25), $9, $16, $35 and $48 million for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively (f) 137 638 590 432 479 417 ------------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Earnings as defined $ 474 $ 687 $ 565 $ (40) $ 119 $ 245 ============ ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== Fixed charges as defined (a) Interest on long-term debt $ 132 $ 560 $ 531 $ 404 $ 420 $ 420 Estimated interest portion of lease rental 1 4 7 10 11 11 Other interest charges 5 49 61 34 83 34 ------------ ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ Fixed charges as defined $ 138 $ 613 $ 599 $ 448 $ 514 $ 465 ============ ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.43 1.12 - - - - ============ ====== ====== ======= ====== ====== NOTES: (a) Earnings and fixed charges as defined in instructions for Item 503 of Regulation S-K. (b) For the year ended December 31, 2003, fixed charges exceeded earnings by $34 million. Earnings as defined include $95 million of asset impairments charges. (c) For the year ended December 31, 2002, fixed charges exceeded earnings by $488 million. Earnings as defined include $602 million of asset impairments charges. (d) For the year ended December 31, 2001, fixed charges exceeded earnings by $395 million. Earnings as defined include $323 million of asset impairments charges. (e) For the year ended December 31, 2000, fixed charges exceeded earnings by $220 million. Earnings as defined include $329 million of asset impairments charges. (f) Fixed charges, adjusted as defined, includes $25 million of interest cost that was capitalized prior to 2004 and subsequently expensed in 2004. .