DR 98-120
                                
               Pittsfield Aqueduct Company, Inc.
                                
              Request to Implement Monthly Billing
                                
 Order NISI Approving Change from Quarterly to Monthly Billing
                                
                    O R D E R   N O.  23,117
                                
                        January 26, 1999
     
       The Petitioner, Pittsfield Aqueduct Company, Inc.
     (PAC), requested as part of its testimony in support of a 3.89%
     rate reduction that it be allowed to move from quarterly billing
     to monthly billing.  PAC testified that it believed this change
     was in the customers' best interest for budgeting purposes.  That
     is, based on the average customers' bills following the rate
     increase implemented to recover the cost of compliance with the
     Surface Water Treatment Rule of the Safe Drinking Water Act,
     customers would find it easier to pay monthly, smaller sums than
     quarterly, larger sums.
       We find the proposed change in billing to be in the
     public interest and will approve it 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 Pittsfield Aqueduct Company, Inc.
     request to bill its customers on a monthly basis is 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 2, 1999 and to be documented by affidavit filed with
     this office on or before February 9, 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 16, 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 February 23, 1999; and it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi shall be
     effective February 25, 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 a
     compliance tariff with the Commission on or before February 25, 
     1999, in accordance with N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc 1603.02(b).
       By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this twenty-sixth day of January, 1999.
     
                                                                      
           Douglas L. Patch       Susan S. Geiger     Nancy Brockway
               Chairman           Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     Attested by:
     
     
     
                          
     Claire D. DiCicco
     Assistant Secretary