Exhibit 12 DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 9 Months Ended September 30, Year Ended December 31, ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997(a) 1996(a) 1995(a) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Earnings Before Income Taxes..... $2,431 $1,655 $1,300 $2,037 $1,613 $1,789 $1,682 Fixed Charges.................... 737 455 671 555 520 540 556 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Total........................ $3,168 $2,110 $1,971 $2,592 $2,133 $2,329 $2,238 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Fixed Charges Interest on debt............... $ 717 $ 435 $ 645 $ 533 $ 497 $ 514 $ 536 Interest component of rentals.. 20 20 26 22 23 26 20 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Fixed Charges................ $ 737 $ 455 $ 671 $ 555 $ 520 $ 540 $ 556 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges......................... 4.3 4.6 2.9 4.7 4.1 4.3 4.0 - -------- (a) Financial information reflects accounting for the combination with PanEnergy Corp on June 18, 1997 as a pooling of interests. As a result, the financial information gives effect to the combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 1995.