**DUQUESNE LIGHT EXHIBIT 12.1**

**Duquesne Light Company and Subsidiaries**

**Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Dollar Amounts in Millions)**

|                                                                                |   | **Three Months Ended March 31, 2003** |     |   |     |   |     | **Year Ended December 31,** |     |   |     |   |   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|---------------------------------------|----------|--------|----------|--------|----------|-----------------------------|----------|--------|----------|--------|--------|
|                                                                                |   |                                  |          |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                  | **2002** |   | **2001** |   | **2000** |                        | **1999** |   | **1998** |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |
| FIXED CHARGES:                                                                      |   |                                  |     |   |     |   |     |                        |     |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Interest on long-term debt                                                          |   | **$**                                 | **11.6** |   | $        | 52.6   |     | $                           | 60.1     |   | $        | 71.2   |   | $ | 76.9 |   | $ | 75.8 |   |
| Other interest                                                                      |   |                                  | **0.3**  |   |     | 2.2    |     |                        | 0.7      |   |     | 3.1    |   |   | 4.8 |   |   | 1.3 |   |
| Company obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities dividend requirements |   |                                  | **3.1**  |   |     | 12.6   |     |                        | 12.6     |   |     | 12.6   |   |   | 12.6 |   |   | 12.6 |   |
| Amortization of debt discount, premium and expense – net                       |   |                                  | **0.8**  |   |     | 2.6    |     |                        | 2.2      |   |     | 2.3    |   |   | 2.5 |   |   | 5.3 |   |
| Portion of lease payments representing an interest factor                           |   |                                  | **0.3**  |   |     | 1.9    |     |                        | 3.1      |   |     | 6.8    |   |   | 43.0 |   |   | 44.1 |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |
| Total Fixed Charges                                                                 |   | **$**                                 | **16.1** |   | $        | 71.9   |     | $                           | 78.7     |   | $        | 96.0   |   | $ | 139.8 |   | $ | 139.1 |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |
| EARNINGS:                                                                           |   |                                  |     |   |     |   |     |                        |     |   |     |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Income from continuing operations                                                   |   | **$**                                 | **16.7** |   | $        | 75.4   |     | $                           | 53.4     |   | $        | 92.6   |   | $ | 151.0 |   | $ | 148.5 |   |
| Income taxes                                                                        |   |                                  | **11.2** |   |     | 49.3   |     |                        | 31.4     |   |     | 41.6   |   |   | 76.1 | * |   | 74.9 | * |
| Fixed charges as above                                                              |   |                                  | **16.1** |   |     | 71.9   |     |                        | 78.7     |   |     | 96.0   |   |   | 139.8 |   |   | 139.1 |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |
| Total Earnings                                                                      |   | **$**                                 | **44.0** |   | $        | 196.6  |     | $                           | 163.5    |   | $        | 230.2  |   | $ | 366.9 |   | $ | 362.5 |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |
| RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES                                                  |   |                                  | **2.73** |   |     | 2.73   |     |                        | 2.08     |   |     | 2.40   |   |   | 2.62 |   |   | 2.61 |   |
|                                                                                |   |                                       |          |   |          |        |     |                             |          |   |          |        |   |  |  |   |  |  |   |

          *Earnings related to income taxesreflect a $3.0 million and $12.0 million decrease for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, due to a financial statement reclassification related to *Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for IncomeTaxes*. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges, absent this reclassification equals 2.65 and 2.69 for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998.