Exhibit 12-B Delmarva Power & Light Company Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends ---------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in Thousands) -------------------- 12 Months Ended Year Ended December 31, June 30, ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Net income $ 144,398 $ 112,410 $ 105,709 $ 116,187 $ 117,488 $ 108,310 -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Income taxes 92,448 72,276 72,155 78,340 75,540 67,613 -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Fixed charges: Interest on long-term debt including amortization of discount, premium and expense 79,394 81,132 78,350 69,329 65,572 61,128 Other interest 8,710 9,328 12,835 12,516 10,353 9,336 Preferred dividend require- ments of a subsidiary trust 5,688 5,688 5,687 1,390 - - -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Total fixed charges 93,792 96,148 96,872 83,235 75,925 70,464 -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Nonutility capitalized interest - - (208) (311) (304) (256) -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges $ 330,638 $ 280,834 $ 274,528 $ 277,451 $ 268,649 $ 246,131 ============== =========== ============ =========== ============ ============= Fixed charges $ 93,792 $ 96,148 $ 96,872 $ 83,235 $ 75,925 $ 70,464 Preferred dividend requirements 6,843 7,150 7,556 14,961 16,185 15,948 -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- $ 100,635 $ 103,298 $ 104,428 $ 98,196 $ 92,110 $ 86,412 ============== =========== ============ =========== ============ ============= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends 3.29 2.72 2.63 2.83 2.92 2.85 For purposes of computing the ratio, earnings are net income plus income taxes and fixed charges, less nonutility capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest on long- and short-term debt, amortization of debt discount, premium, and expense, dividends on preferred securities of a subsidiary trust, plus the interest factor associated with DPL's major leases, and one-third of the remaining annual rentals. Preferred dividend requirements represent annualized preferred dividend requirements multiplied by the ratio that pre-tax income bears to income.