EXHIBIT 12 NIPSCO INDUSTRIES, INC. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Earnings as defined in Item 603(d) of Regulation S-K: Income before interest charges............... $248,243,984 $261,422,078 $267,739,129 $284,348,649 $290,836,347 Adjustments: Federal income taxes.. 61,556,604 89,021,067 100,320,963 102,223,791 78,532,661 State income tax...... 11,700,316 13,132,078 15,398,420 15,420,719 12,450,863 Deferred investment tax credit, net...... (7,461,688) (7,446,643) (6,488,242) (7,616,362) (7,407,813) Deferred income taxes, net.................. 14,503,080 2,122,284 (11,488,356) (2,680,002) 27,418,121 Federal and state income taxes included in other income...... (3,323,871) (5,537,170) (15,332,783) (9,260,066) (4,076,337) Amortization of capitalized interest. 0 0 103,130 247,616 247,512 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ $326,228,506 $362,714,804 $349,241,282 $383,790,245 $387,301,754 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============ Fixed charges as defined in item 603(d) of Regulation S-K: Interest on long-term debt.................. $ 37,660,094 $ 82,121,208 $ 78,292,155 $ 82,555,251 $ 35,381,829 Other interest......... 9,954,982 9,235,108 11,860,228 12,731,395 17,448,667 Amortization of premium, reacquisition premium, discount and expense on debt, net.. 3,322,908 3,662,624 3,897,161 4,401,668 4,506,472 Interest portion of rent expense.......... 1,395,288 2,038,882 2,220,675 2,416,111 2,656,116 Capitalized interest during period......... 326,631 4,664,887 2,145,182 234,613 0 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ $102,659,814 $101,835,618 $ 98,205,291 $102,488,028 $110,091,884 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============ Plus preferred stock dividends: Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiary............ $ 10,858,424 $ 10,541,008 $ 9,912,758 $ 9,046,207 $ 8,711,986 Preferred dividend requirements factor... 1.52 1.66 1.67 1.54 1.59 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Preferred dividend requirements of subsidiary............ 18,200,804 16,131,969 14,571,756 13,931,169 13,852,056 Fixed charges.......... 102,859,314 101,638,818 88,206,291 102,488,928 110,091,884 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ $119,860,618 $117,767,787 $112,777,047 $116,419,187 $123,843,340 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============ Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.......... 2.74 3.00 3.10 3.30 3.21