DR 98-128
     
                   CENTRAL WATER COMPANY, INC. 
     
                    Petition for Rate Increase
     
        Order Suspending Proposed Permanent Rate Schedule
               and Notice of Prehearing Conference
     
                    O R D E R  N O.  23,045  
     
                         October 27, 1998
     
         Central Water Company Inc. (Central or the Petitioner),
     filed with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
     (Commission) on September 25, 1998 proposed rate schedules and
     supporting documentation which, if approved, would result in an 
     increase of approximately 32.15% or a total annual increase in
     revenue of approximately $84,681, for the 625 customers at the
     Locke Lake Development in Barnstead, New Hampshire.  Central
     stated in its prefiled testimony that it is not seeking temporary
     rates in this proceeding.    The filing raises, inter alia, issues related to
     consumption trends, operation and maintenance expenses, capital
     structure, rate base additions, management contract allocations
     and rate case expenses, all of which require a thorough
     investigation.
         Based on the foregoing, it is hereby
         ORDERED, that Central's NHPUC No.4 Water, Fourth
     Revised Page 16 is hereby suspended; and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that a Prehearing Conference be held
     before the Commission located at 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New
     Hampshire on November 13, 1998 10:00 a.m. at which each party
     will provide a preliminary summary of its position with regard to
     the Petition.  Absent objection five days before the prehearing,
     the Prehearing Conference will be recorded on tape rather than by
a stenographer; and it is
     FURTHER ORDERED, that, immediately following the
Prehearing Conference, Central, the Staff of the Commission and
the Intervenors hold a First Technical Session to review the
Petition and allow the Petitioner to provide any updates or
amendments to its filing; and it is
     FURTHER ORDERED, that the parties discuss the following
proposed schedule prior to the prehearing conference:


          Responses to Oral Data          November 20, 1998 
          Requests Propounded at the
          1st Technical Session
     
          First set of Data Requests to   December 3, 1998       Company from Staff and 
          Intervenors
     
          Company Data Responses          December 10, 1998 
     
               Second set of Data Requests     December 17, 1998
     
          Company Data Response           December 30, 1998 
          
          Testimony by Staff and          January 21, 1999 
          Intervenors
     
          Data Requests to Staff and      January 29, 1999
          Intervenors                                       
     
          Data Responses by Staff and     February 4, 1999 
          Intervenors
     
          Settlement Conference           February 18, 1999 
     
          Filing of Settlement            February 25, 1999 
          Agreement, if any
     
          Hearing                         March 2, 1999;
     
          Unless otherwise ordered following the prehearing
     conference, the above schedule shall be adopted; and it is
          FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
     203.01, Central notify all persons desiring to be heard at this
     hearing by publishing a copy of this Order no later than November
     6, 1998, in a newspaper of general circulation in that portion of
     the state in which operations are conducted, publication to be
     documented by affidavit filed with the Commission on or before
     November 13, 1998; and it is
          FURTHER ORDERED, that Central serve a summary of its
     proposed rate change and a copy of this Order of Notice in
     accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules Puc 1601.05(j), on current and
     known prospective customers and the Barnstead Town Clerk by first
     class U.S. Mail, postmarked no later than November 6, 1998; and
     it is
     
          FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
     203.02, any party seeking to intervene in the proceeding shall
     submit to the Commission an original and eight copies of a
     Petition to Intervene with copies sent to Central and the Office
     of the Consumer Advocate on or before November 10, 1998, such
     Petition stating the facts demonstrating how its rights, duties,
     privileges, immunities or other substantial interests may be
     affected by the proceeding, as required by N.H. Admin. Rule Puc
     203.02 (a)(2); and it is
          FURTHER ORDERED, that any party objecting to a Petition
     to Intervene file said Objection on or before November 13, 1998. By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this twenty-seventh day of October, 1998.
     
     
                                                                    
       Douglas L. Patch       Susan S. Geiger        Nancy Brockway
           Chairman             Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     Attested by:
     
     
                                     
     Thomas B. Getz 
     Executive Director and Secretary
     
          Any individuals needing assistance or auxiliary communication aids
     due to sensory impairment or other disability, should contact the American
     with Disabilities Act Coordinator, NHPUC, 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New
     Hampshire  03301-7319; 603-271-2431; TDD Access:  Relay N.H. 1-800-735-2964. 
     Preferably, notification of the need for assistance should be made one week
     before the scheduled event.