DF 96-210
                                     
                TILTON & NORTHFIELD AQUEDUCT COMPANY, INC.
                                     
          Petition for Authority to Issue Securities and Increase
                                   Rates
                                     
                         Order Granting Rehearing
                                     
                         O R D E R   N O.  22,924
                                     
                               May 11, 1998
                                     
         On March 27, 1998, the New Hampshire Public
     Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order No. 22,884,
     which granted Tilton & Northfield Aqueduct Company, Inc.
     (TNA) authority to increase rates in order to recover
     additional revenues of $573,972.  The major impetus for the
     necessary revenue increase is to recover the costs of
     investment in plant required for compliance with the Safe
     Drinking Water Act.  As a result, TNA rates for the average
     residential ratepayer will increase from approximately $180
     annually to approximately $505 annually.
         On April 24, 1998, the Commission received a
     petition from numerous TNA customers asking for a rehearing
     of the Commission's decision on rates.  Subsequently, on
     April 28, 1998, the Commission received a request for
     rehearing from State Representatives Tom Salatiello, Gerard
     St Cyr and Gordon Bartlett.  Among other things, the
     requests for rehearing argued that the rate increase is too
     high and that proper notice of the hearings was not
     provided.
         We have reviewed the requests for rehearing and
     find that it is appropriate to schedule a hearing to accept
     public comment on the issues raised by the requests. 
     Accordingly, a hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m. on June 9,
     1998.  At the hearing, Commission Staff will begin the
     proceedings with an explanation of the procedural history of
     the case.  Afterwards, we expect TNA to explain the reasons
     for its requested rate increase.  Finally, customers and
     other interested parties may state their positions.   
         Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
         ORDERED, that a hearing for the purposes described
     above be held June 9, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. at the offices of
     the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission at 8 Old
     Suncook Road, Concord, New Hampshire, and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that TNA publish by May 19, 1998,
     a copy of this order in a newspaper of general circulation
     which serves its franchise area; and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that TNA file by June 9, 1998, an
     affidavit of publication.
     
         By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this eleventh day of May, 1998.
     
                                                                
        Douglas L. Patch  Bruce B. Ellsworth     Susan S. Geiger
            Chairman         Commissioner         Commissioner
     
     
     Attested by:
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary