Exhibit (12)(b) CMS ENERGY CORPORATION Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends (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) 140 649 605 518 577 561 ------------ ------ ----- ------- ------- -------- Earnings as defined $ 477 $ 698 $ 580 $ 46 $ 217 $ 389 ============ ====== ===== ======= ======= ======== 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 Preferred securities dividends and distributions 3 11 15 86 98 144 ------------ ------ ----- ------- ------- -------- Fixed charges as defined $ 141 $ 624 $ 614 $ 534 $ 612 $ 609 ============ ====== ===== ======= ======= ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred securities dividends and distributions 3.38 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 of asset impairments charges. (f) Fixed charges, adjusted as defined, include $25 million of interest cost that was capitalized prior to 2004 and subsequently expensed in 2004.