DR 98-088
                                
                  Pennichuck Water Works, Inc.
                                
             Order Nisi Approving Tariff Revision 
                and Miscellaneous Fee Increases
                                
                    O R D E R   N O.  23,133
                                
                        February 1, 1999
                                
       On May 20, 1998, Pennichuck Water Works, Inc. (the
     Company or Petitioner) submitted a number of changes to its
     existing tariffs governing the provision of water service to (1)
     its Nashua Core customers, (2) its recently acquired service
     areas in Pittsfield and (3) Pennichuck East customers served in a
     number of satellite systems previously owned by Consumers Water.
       The purpose of the revisions is to assure that the
     terms and conditions of the three tariffs are consistent.  A
     limited number of modifications to the existing service
     provisions have been submitted for approval and inclusion in the
     three tariffs.  The Company requested certain miscellaneous
     Utility Service fees also be increased to reflect labor costs. 
       The following changes to the general provisions have
     been submitted. 
       1.  The Company is requesting the applicant for water
     service install booster pumps under conditions of low pressure
     and install pressure reducing valves when high pressure
     conditions exist.  
       2.  The Company is requesting authority for customers
     on a monthly billing cycle to have the option to read some or all
     meters in alternate months and render a monthly bill.  For those
     months in which no reading is taken the Company is proposing to
     estimate consumption based upon the customer's historic
     consumption data.  The estimated bill will be trued-up to reflect
     actual consumption on the next bill based on actual meter
     reading.  In the event the meter cannot be read at the regularly
     scheduled time, pre-paid postcards may be used by the customer to
     record the reading or the customer may call the company with a
     meter reading.  
       3.  For new services requested by developers and
     non-residential customers, the Company is proposing that 
     non-residential customers and developers applying for service
     install the section of the service pipe from the "main-to-stop"
     or have that portion of the pipe installed by the Company at the
     expense of the customer.
       4.  The Company has revised its water restrictions
     section.  It will inform customers concerning restrictions on
     usage by mail or on-site notice, newspaper or local circulation,
     radio and television.  
       5.  The final changes are to Miscellaneous service fees
     reflecting labor cost increases:
                                     Existing    Proposed
       Service Connection Charge:    $20         $28
                 Regular Hours
     
            Non-regular Hours        $30         $40
       Staff has reviewed the above proposed changes and
     recommended to the Commission that the Company be allowed to
     modify Pennichuck's tariffs to reflect the above changes.
       We find the proposed changes in Pennichuck's tariffs to
     be in the public interest and will approve them subject to any
     further proceeding deemed necessary based on any comments
     received from the public.
       Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby 
       ORDERED NISI, that Pennichuck Water Works, Inc's. above
     tariff changes are APPROVED subject to any subsequent review
     ordered by this Commission; and it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petitioner shall cause a copy
     of this Order Nisi to be published once in a statewide newspaper
     of general circulation and also a newspaper of general
     circulation distributed only in that portion of the state where
     operations are conducted, such publication to be no later than
     February 8, 1999 and to be documented by affidavit filed with
     this office on or before February 15, 1999; and it is
     
       FURTHER ORDERED, that all persons interested in
     responding to this petition be notified that they may submit
     their comments or file a written request for a hearing on this
     matter before the Commission no later than February 22, 1999; and
     it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, that any party interested in
     responding to such comments or request for hearing shall do so no
     later than March 1, 1999; and it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi shall be
     effective March 3, 1999, unless the Commission provides otherwise
     in a supplemental order issued prior to the effective date; and
     it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petitioner shall file
     compliance tariffs with the Commission on or before March 3, 1999
     in accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc 1603.02(b).
       By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this first day of February, 1999.
     
     
                                                                      
           Douglas L. Patch       Susan S. Geiger     Nancy Brockway
               Chairman           Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     
     Attested by:
     
     
                                     
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary