DR 97-239
                                     
                         Bodwell Waste Corporation
                                     
                 Petition for Permanent Increase In Rates
                                     
          Approving Procedural Schedule and Granting Intervention
                                     
                         O R D E R   N O.  22,897
                                     
                          April 7, 1998
     
         APPEARANCES: Stephen St. Cyr, for Bodwell Waste
     Services Corp.; Richard H. Girard, City of Manchester Alderman-at-Large, on behalf of residents of the neighborhoods of
     Rosecliff and Megan's Meadow; E. Barclay Jackson Esq., for the
     Staff of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.
     
         On January 13, 1998, Bodwell Waste Services Corp.
     (Bodwell) filed with the New Hampshire Public Utilities
     Commission (Commission) a petition seeking an increase in annual
     revenues of $19,585, which constitutes a rate increase of
     approximately 41%.
         By Order No. 22,858 (February 23, 1998), the Commission
     suspended the proposed rates and scheduled a prehearing
     conference for March 19, 1998.  On March 13, 1998, Richard H.
     Girard, City of Manchester Alderman-at-Large, filed a request for
     intervention on behalf of the residents of the neighborhoods of
     Rosecliff and Megan's Meadow.      A duly noticed prehearing
     conference was held on March 19, 1998.       
         At the prehearing conference, Alderman Girard 
     expressed concern that Bodwell might use the proposed rate
     increase to partially or fully offset costs associated with
     Bodwell's proposed franchise expansion to the neighboring Town of
     Londonderry, currently pending in Docket No. DE 97-259.  Staff
     pointed out that the rate increase approved in this docket, if
     any, will be based upon numbers associated with the existing
     franchise only, and will not encompass expenses associated with
     the franchise expansion.  Also, Staff pointed out, the
     intermunicipal sewer agreement necessary to move Docket       
     No. 97-259 forward has not been obtained.  For those reasons,
     Staff stated, Alderman Girard's concern, while valid, will not
     affect this docket.
         Staff requested, and was granted permission, at the
     prehearing conference to meet with representatives of Bodwell and
     the Intervenor to prepare a proposed procedural schedule.  On
     March 19, 1998, Staff, Bodwell and Alderman Girard agreed to the
     following proposed schedule:
         Data Requests by Staff and         April 15, 1998 
         Intervenor to Bodwell              
     
         Data Responses by Bodwell          April 22, 1998
         
         Testimony by Staff and             May 8, 1998
         Intervenor                         
         
         Data Request by Bodwell to         May 15, 1998
         Staff and Intervenor               
     
         Data Responses by Staff            June 3, 1998
         and Intervenor                     
     
     
         Settlement Conference              June 10, 1998 
                                              9:00 a.m.
     
         Settlement Agreement, if any,      June 22, 1998 
         Submitted to Commission            
     
         Hearings                           June 29,1998                                              1:30 p.m. 
                                            July 1, 1998                                              10:00 a.m.
     
         We find this proposed procedural schedule to be
     reasonable in light of the current scope of the docket.  However,
     Bodwell and others should be aware that delays in the auditing
     process may have significant impact on this procedural schedule. 
     Thus, all parties are encouraged to work diligently to avoid
     unnecessary delays.
         Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
         ORDERED, that the proposed procedural schedule
     delineated above is APPROVED, and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that full intervenor status is granted
     in this matter to Richard H. Girard, City of Manchester Alderman-at-Large, acting on behalf of residents of the neighborhoods of
     Rosecliff and Megan's Meadow.
                   By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this seventh day of April, 1998.
     
                                                                     
        Douglas L. Patch    Bruce B. Ellsworth        Susan S. Geiger
            Chairman           Commissioner            Commissioner
     
     
     Attested by:
     
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary