. . . Exhibit 12 Atmos Energy Corporation Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges Year Ended September 30 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- (Dollars in thousands) Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change $137,765 $126,371 $ 94,836 $ 89,458 $56,237 per statement of income Add: Portion of rents representative of the interest factor 3,571 3,626 3,614 2,917 3,007 Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense 65,437 63,660 59,174 47,011 43,823 ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- Income as adjusted $206,773 $193,657 $157,624 $139,386 $103,067 ============= ============= ============ ============ ============= Fixed charges: Interest on debt & amortization of debt expense (1) $ 65,437 $ 63,660 $ 59,174 $ 47,011 $43,823 Capitalized interest (2) 1,184 623 1,272 1,494 - Capitalized expenses related to indebtedness (3) - - - 4,718 - Rents 10,712 10,878 10,842 8,752 9,020 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor (4) 3,571 3,626 3,614 2,917 3,007 ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- Fixed charges (1)+(2)+(3)+(4) $ 70,192 $ 67,909 $ 64,060 $ 56,140 $46,830 ============= ============= ============ ============ ============= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.95 2.85 2.46 2.48 2.20