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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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<CAPTION>
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Years Ended December 31,                            1997           1996          1995           1994           1993
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<S>                                                <C>          <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>    
Earnings:
   Income before cumulative
      effect of change
      in accounting principle .......              $304,380     $ 298,273      $ 21,344        $183,171    $188,494  
   Add income taxes (excluding                                                                                       
      cumulative effect of change                                                                                    
      in accounting principle) ......               147,053       155,830         2,943          82,427      99,906  
                                                   --------     ---------      --------        --------    --------  
         Income before income taxes .               451,433       454,103        24,287         265,598     288,400  
   Distributed income from                                                                                           
      unconsolidated investees, less                                                                                 
      equity in earnings thereof ....                 1,653        (1,084)        1,501             560       2,960  
                                                   --------     ---------      --------        --------    --------  
         Subtotal ...................               453,086       453,019        25,788         266,158     291,360  
                                                   --------     ---------      --------        --------    --------  
                                                                                                                     
   Add fixed charges:                                                                                                
      Interest on long-term debt,                                                                                    
         including amortization of                                                                                   
         debt discount and expense                                                                                   
         less premium ...............               104,927       101,814        95,823          88,788      85,265  
      Other interest expense ........                 9,116         7,224        14,732           7,992       4,995  
      Portion of rentals deemed to                                                                                   
         be representative of the                                                                                    
         interest factor ............                10,112         9,449         9,565           8,486       8,378  
      Fixed charges associated                                                                                       
         with 50% projects with debt                  2,016         2,157         1,388              --          --  
                                                   --------     ---------      --------        --------    --------  
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES .................               126,171       120,644       121,508         105,266      98,638  
                                                   --------     ---------      --------        --------    --------  
TOTAL EARNINGS ......................              $579,257     $ 573,663      $147,296        $371,424    $389,998  
                                                   ========     =========      ========        ========    ========  
                                                                                                                     
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED                                                                                           
   CHARGES ..........................                  4.59          4.76          1.21            3.53        3.95  
                                                   ========     =========      ========        ========    ========  
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