Exhibit 12
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
        Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                      (Dollars in Thousands)


                                              
                                              
                                        1995             1994             1993  
<S>                                   <C>              <C>              <C>
Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . .   $110,873         $104,526         $108,103
Taxes on Income . . . . . . . . . .     51,787           55,349           46,896
     Net Income Plus Taxes. . . . .    162,660          159,875          154,999
                                             
Fixed Charges:                               
  Interest on Long-Term Debt. . . .     47,073           47,827           53,908
  Interest on Other Indebtedness. .      5,190            5,183            6,075
  Interest on Corporate-owned                
    Life Insurance Borrowings . . .     25,357           20,990           11,865
  Interest Applicable to Rentals. .     25,375           25,096           24,967
      Total Fixed Charges . . . . .    102,995           99,096           96,815
                                             
Earnings (1). . . . . . . . . . . .   $265,655         $258,971         $251,814
                                             
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.       2.58             2.61             2.60
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
                                                            1992            
                                      Pro Forma    April 1   |  January 1  
                                      1992 (2)    to Dec. 31 | to March 31       1991  
<S>                                   <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
                                                 (Successor) |(Predecessor) 
Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . .   $ 77,981     $ 71,941  |   $  6,040      $ 53,602
Taxes on Income . . . . . . . . . .     20,378       23,551  |     (3,173)       15,955
     Net Income Plus Taxes. . . . .     98,359       95,492  |      2,867        69,557
                                                             |
Fixed Charges:                                               |
  Interest on Long-Term Debt. . . .     57,862       42,889  |     14,973        59,668
  Interest on Other Indebtedness. .     15,121       11,777  |      3,344        17,838
  Interest on Corporate-owned                                |
    Life Insurance Borrowings . . .      7,155        5,294  |      1,861         7,304
  Interest Applicable to Rentals. .     30,212       22,133  |      8,079        32,193
      Total Fixed Charges . . . . .    110,350       82,093  |     28,257       117,003
                                                             |
Earnings (1). . . . . . . . . . . .   $208,709     $177,585  |   $ 31,124      $186,560
                                                             |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.       1.89         2.16  |       1.10          1.59


                                

(1)  Earnings are deemed to consist of net income to which has been added income taxes
     (including net  deferred  investment  tax  credit)  and  fixed  charges.  Fixed  charges
     consist of all interest on  indebtedness, amortization  of debt  discount  and  expense,
     and the portion of rental expense which represents an interest factor.

(2)  The pro forma information for the year ended December 31, 1992 was derived by combining
     the historical information of the three month period ended March 31, 1992 (Predecessor)
     and the nine month period  ended December 31, 1992 (Successor).  No purchase accounting
     adjustments were made  for  periods  prior to  the Merger in determining pro forma amounts
     because such adjustments would be immaterial.  (See Note 1 of Notes to Financial
     Statements)
</TABLE>