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                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
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Years Ended December 31,                           1996      1995       1994        1993       1992
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<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Earnings:                                                                                  
 Income before cumulative                                                                  
   effect of change                                                                        
   in accounting principle.....................  $298,273   $ 21,344   $183,171   $188,494   $194,958
 Add income taxes (excluding                                                               
   cumulative effect of change                                                             
   in accounting principle)....................   155,830      2,943     82,427     99,906     68,623
                                                 --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
     Income before income taxes................   454,103     24,287    265,598    288,400    263,581
 Distributed income from unconsolidated                                                     
   investees, less equity in earnings                                                     
   thereof.....................................    (1,084)     1,501        560      2,960     (1,707)
                                                 --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
     Subtotal..................................   453,019     25,788    266,158    291,360    261,874
                                                 --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                                                           
 Add fixed charges:                                                                        
   Interest on long-term debt, including                                                   
     amortization of debt discount and                                                    
     expense less premium......................   101,814     95,823     88,788     85,265     93,594
   Other interest expense......................     7,224     14,732      7,992      4,995      7,170
   Portion of rentals deemed to                                                            
     be representative of                                                                  
     the interest factor.......................     9,449      9,565      8,486      8,378      7,822
   Fixed charges associated                                                                
     with 50% projects with debt...............     2,157      1,388          -          -          _
                                                 --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES............................   120,644    121,508    105,266     98,638    108,586
                                                 --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
TOTAL EARNINGS.................................  $573,663   $147,296   $371,424   $389,998   $370,460
                                                 ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
                                                                                           
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED                                                                 
 CHARGES.......................................      4.76       1.21       3.53       3.95       3.41
                                                 ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
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