Exhibit 12(b)
PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
PLUS PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
For the Year Ended December 31,
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
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(Millions)
Earnings as Defined in regulation S-K (A):
Pre-tax Income from Continuing Operations $ 320 $ 324 $ 994 $ 1,163 $ 1,006
Fixed Charges
429 487 462 457 451
Preferred Securities Dividend Requirements
of Consolidated Subsidiaries
(13) (24) (46) (46) (44)
Preferred Stock Dividends, pre-tax
(7) (8) (15) (15) (15)
AFUDC
(1) (2) (1) (7) (12)
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Total Earnings $ 728 $ 777 $ 1,394 $ 1,552 $ 1,386
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Fixed Charges as Defined in regulation S-K (B):
Total Interest Expense $ 407 $ 452 $ 398 $ 394 $ 390
Interest Factor in Rentals
2 3 3 2 2
Preferred Securities Dividend Requirements
of Consolidated Subsidiaries
13 24 46 46 44
Preferred Stock Dividends
4 5 9 9 9
Adjustment to Preferred Stock Dividends
Requirements to state on a pre-income
tax basis 3 3 6 6 6
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Total Fixed Charges $ 429 $ 487 $ 462 $ 457 $ 451
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
1.70 1.60 3.02 3.40 3.07
(A) The term "earnings" shall be defined as pretax income from continuing
operations. Add to pretax income the amount of fixed charges adjusted to exclude
(a) the amount of any interest capitalized during the period (b) the actual
amount of any preferred securities dividend requirements of majority-owned
subsidiaries (c) preferred stock dividends which were included in such fixed
charges amount but not deducted in the determination of pretax income.
(B) Fixed Charges represent (a) interest, whether expensed or capitalized,
(including interest on the securitized debt) (b) amortization of debt discount,
premium and expense, (c) an estimate of interest implicit in rentals, and (d)
preferred securities dividend requirements of majority-owned subsidiaries and
preferred stock dividends, increased to reflect the pre-tax earnings requirement
for Public Service Electric and Gas Company.