Exhibit-12
<TABLE>
LACLEDE GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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<CAPTION>
12 Months Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
Ended --------------------------------------------
3/31/00 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
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(Thousands of Dollars)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income before interest
charges and income
taxes $61,441 $61,016 $64,603 $69,908 $69,168 $49,557
Add: One third of applicable
rentals charged to
operating expense
(which approximates the
interest factor) 307 301 297 294 291 288
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Total Earnings $61,748 $61,317 $64,900 $70,202 $69,459 $49,845
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Interest on long-term debt $14,841 $13,966 $14,797 $14,169 $13,939 $12,544
Other interest 6,997 6,627 6,473 4,919 4,008 5,983
One-third of applicable
rentals charged to
operating expense
(which approximates the
interest factor) 307 301 297 294 291 288
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Total Fixed Charges $22,145 $20,894 $21,567 $19,382 $18,238 $18,815
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Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges 2.79 2.93 3.01 3.62 3.81 2.65
</TABLE>
