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                                                                   EXHIBIT 12-1


               MICHIGAN CONSOLIDATED GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          Twelve Months Ended        Twelve Months Ended       Twelve Months Ended
                                                             March 31, 1998          December 31, 1997         December 31, 1996
<S>                                                        <C>                        <C>                    <C>
EARNINGS AS DEFINED (1)
Net Income...............................................       $129,786                  $125,630                  $122,239
Fixed charges............................................         59,788                    57,905                    53,831
                                                                --------                  --------                  --------
  Earnings as defined....................................       $189,574                  $183,535                  $176,070
                                                                ========                  ========                  ========
                                                                                                                            
FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED (1)                                                                                                
Interest on long-term debt..............................        $ 48,442                  $ 47,024                  $ 43,163
Interest on other borrowed funds........................           9,030                     8,664                     8,012
Amortization of debt discounts, premium                                                                                     
  and expense...........................................           1,006                     1,032                     1,081
Interest implicit in rentals (2)........................           1,310                     1,185                     1,575
                                                                --------                  --------                  --------
  Fixed charges as defined..............................        $ 59,788                  $ 57,905                  $ 53,831
                                                                ========                  ========                  ========
                                                                                                                            
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ...................              3.17                      3.17                      3.27
                                                                    ====                      ====                      ====
</TABLE>


Notes:
(1) Earnings and fixed charges are defined and computed in accordance with Item
    503 of Regulation S-K. 
(2) This amount is estimated to be a reasonable
    approximation of the interest portion of rentals.

MichCon is a guarantor of certain other debt. Fixed charges related to such debt
are deemed to be immaterial and therefore have been excluded from the above
ratios.