**EXHIBIT NO. 12**

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**NUICORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES**

**CONSOLIDATEDRATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES**

**(Dollarsin thousands)**

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**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 YearEnded September 30,                                         **

|                                                        | **2002**                 | **2001***          | **2000***          | **1999**                                      | **1998**          |
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Income from continuing  operations before income taxes |  

$27,383          |  

$46,022    |  

$34,999    |       

$41,718 |  

$21,024   |
|                                                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| Add:                                                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| Interest element of rentals                            |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| charged to income (a)                                  | 3,752                    | 3,239              | 2,345              | 3,144                                         | 3,239             |
| Interest expense                                       |   22,454            | 25,067             | 21,708             | 21,836                                        | 20,496            |
| Earnings as defined                                    | $53,589                  | $74,328            | $59,052            | $66,698                                       | $44,759           |
|                                                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| Interest  expense                                      | $22,454                  | $25,067            | $21,708            | $21,836                                       | $20,496           |
| Capitalized  interest                                  | 173                      | 1,548              | 754                | 83                                            | 272               |
| Interest  element of rentals charged                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| to income (a)                                          |     3,752 |    3,239 |    2,345 |   3,144                                  |   3,239 |
| Fixed charges as defined                               | $26,379             | $29,854            | $24,807            | $25,063                                       | $24,007           |
|                                                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |
| Consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed  charges       |  

2.03             |  

2.49       |  

2.38       |  

2,66                                  |  

1.86      |
|                                                   |                     |               |               |                                          |              |

(a)     Includes the interestelement of rentals where determinable plus 1/3 of rental expense where noreadily defined interest element can be determined.

* As Restated (see Note 2 of the Notes to theConsolidated Financial Statements)