. . . Exhibit 12 Atmos Energy Corporation Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges Year Ended September 30 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change $126,371 $ 94,836 $ 89,458 $ 56,237 $ 27,299 per statement of income Add: Portion of rents representative of the interest factor 3,626 3,614 2,917 3,007 3,520 Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense 63,660 59,174 47,011 43,823 37,063 ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- Income as adjusted $193,657 $ 157,624 $ 139,386 $ 103,067 $67,882 ============= ============ ============ ============= =========== Fixed charges: Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense (1) $ 63,660 $ 59,174 $ 47,011 $ 43,823 $37,063 Capitalized interest (2) 623 1,272 1,494 - 3,724 Capitalized expenses related to indebtedness (3) - - 4,718 - - Rents 10,878 10,842 8,752 9,020 10,560 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (4) 3,626 3,614 2,917 3,007 3,520 ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- Fixed charges (1)+(2)+(3)+(4) $ 67,909 $ 64,060 $ 56,140 $ 46,830 $44,307 ============= ============ ============ ============= =========== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.85 2.46 2.48 2.20 1.53