DR 98-199
                                
                    Northern Utilities, Inc.
                                
                 Petition for Sale of Property
                                
          Order Approving Sale of Gosling Road Lateral
              to Granite State Transmission, Inc.
                                
                    O R D E R   N O.  23,148
                                
                       February 19, 1999
     
       APPEARANCES: LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae by Susan L.
     Geiser, Esq. and Paul B. Dexter, Esq. for Northern Utilities,
     Inc.; Kenneth E. Traum for the Office of the Consumer Advocate;
     and, Larry S. Eckhaus, Esq., for the Staff of the New Hampshire
     Public Utilities Commission.
     
     
          I.   PROCEDURAL AND PROJECT HISTORY
               On October 22, 1998, Northern Utilities, Inc. (Northern
     or the Company) entered into a Bill of Sale with its affiliate,
     Granite State Transmission, Inc. (Granite), both wholly-owned
     subsidiaries of Bay State Gas Company, for the transfer of
     Northern's Gosling Road Lateral (GRL), an existing 5,178 foot
     lateral of 8 and 12 inch pipe extending from a connection with
     Granite along Gosling Road and Murdock Road in Newington, New
     Hampshire to the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System
     (PNGTS)/Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline LLC (Maritimes)
     Newington Metering and Regulator Station (Station).  The
     construction of the lateral from PNGTS' main line to the 
     Station, the interconnection with the GRL, was commenced by PNGTS
     on August 28, 1998 and completed on December 15, 1998.  The
     Station construction commenced on August 18, 1998 and was
     completed on November 10, 1998.
               On October 27, 1998, Granite filed with the Federal
     Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a certificate of public
     convenience and necessity to acquire and operate the GRL. (Docket
     CP99-39-000)  A copy of the petition was filed with the New
     Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (Commission) on December 8,
     1998.
               On November 17, 1998, Northern filed a petition for
     approval, if required, of the Maine Public Utilities Commission
     (MPUC) (Docket No. 98-921) for sale of the aforementioned lateral
     to Granite.  A copy of the petition was filed with the New
     Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (Commission) on December 8,
     1998. 
               On November 17, 1998, Northern filed, pursuant to RSA
     374:30, a petition for Commission approval of the sale of the GRL
     to Granite.
               The Staff of the Commission (Staff) promulgated a
     series of interrogatories, on November 25, 1998, intended to
     elicit additional information regarding the proposal and met
     informally with the Company on December 4, 1998.  On December 9,
     1998, the Commission issued an Order of Notice, pursuant to RSA
     374:30, detailing the issues raised by the petition and
     establishing a Prehearing Conference for December 21, 1998 and a
     procedural schedule for the duration of the proceeding.
               At the duly noticed Prehearing Conference held on
     December 21, 1998, the Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA)
     appeared on behalf of residential utility consumers pursuant to
     RSA 363:28 II.  Affidavits of publication were duly filed and the
     Newington Town Clerk was notified.  In accordance with the Order
     of Notice, the parties and Staff provided preliminary statements
     of their positions. 
               On December 23, 1998, the Company filed the testimonies
     of Messrs. David Deans and Paul LaShoto in support of the
     Company's Petition.  Responses from the Company pertaining to
     Technical Session Data Requests were received on December 24,
     1998, at which time Northern filed a Motion for Protective Order
     pertaining to Response TDR-5, which included customer usage and
     billing data for Public Service Company of New Hampshire's
     Schiller Plant.  On January 12, 1999, the Commission issued Order
     No. 23,106 granting the Motion for Protective Treatment, and
     Order No. 23,107 approving the procedural schedule and adopting
     Staff's recommendation that this proceeding should go forward
     under both RSA 374:30 and RSA 366:3. On January 13, 1999,
     Northern provided additional responses to Staff's Data Requests
     of January 6, 1999.
               In an effort to narrow the issues and reach a
     settlement in these proceedings, the Parties and Staff met on
     December 4, 1998, and December 21, 1998.  A Stipulation and
     Comprehensive Settlement Agreement (Agreement) was filed with the
     Commission on January 27, 1999.
          II.  ORIGINAL POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES
                    1.    Northern Utilities, Inc.
               Northern's proposal involves a transfer of pipe from
     Northern to Granite to allow Northern to receive its PNGTS
     volumes into its system in the most efficient manner possible,
     i.e., via Granite which has more than 35 delivery points on
     Northern's system.  The economic and environmental consequences
     are the most significant reasons for making this proposal. 
     Currently, Northern receives gas transported via the Portland
     Pipe Line (PPL) to Granite.  Northern's contract with PPL expires
     April 30, 1999.  Northern's gas supply and transportation
     capacity on the leased PPL pipeline will be replaced by
     PNGTS/Maritimes.  Northern proposes to sell the GRL to Granite at
     its net book value at the date of transfer, which was
     approximately $372,035 at December 31, 1998.  Northern maintains
     that the proposed sale is the least expensive and environmentally
     preferable plan to link Granite with PNGTS/Maritimes' Newington
     interconnection because the alternative interconnection between
     Granite and PNGTS is approximately one mile in a densely
                              congested area.          
                    2.    OCA
               The OCA questioned (1) whether the Company's proposal
     would  be the least cost alternative for Northern to receive gas
     from PNGTS; (2) whether the opportunity for bypass was increased;
     (3) whether the transfer price was appropriate; (4) whether there
     were any safety implications; (5) whether there is a potential
     for double recovery via the Cost of Gas Adjustment Clause and
     Northern's base rates due to potential timing differences between
     Granite's filings at the FERC and Northern's filings at the
     Commission; and (6) whether Granite should bear the cost of the
     extension by Northern to the Atlantic Gymnastics Training Center
     to place it on a lower pressure Northern main. 
                    3.    Staff
               Staff raised several issues including (1) the
     relationship of this proceeding to the related proceedings before
     the FERC and the MPUC; (2) the costs and environmental
     considerations of alternatives to the proposed sale, including
     Northern filing for a limited FERC certificate to serve as an
     interstate pipeline; (3) treatment of Northern customers
     connected to the GRL; (4) the risk of bypass along the GRL if
     that segment becomes an interstate pipeline; (5) the status of
     the PNGTS and Maritimes pipeline projects; (6) the
     appropriateness of net book value as the sale price of the GRL;
     (7) the costs avoided by Granite and PNGTS as a result of
     approval of this petition; (8) the effect the sale will have on
     Northern, Northern's customers in New Hampshire, Granite, Bay
     State, present transportation customers, and transportation
     service in the present and in a full or partially unbundled
     environment; (9) the future relationship of Northern and Granite;
     (10) whether the proposed interconnection is the best link from
     both a cost and safety perspective; (11) Northern's plans
     regarding the PSNH Newington metering facilities installed in
     accordance with DR 91-095; (12) how safety issues along the GRL
     will be addressed; and (13) whether granting the proposed
     petition would be for the public good. 
          III. STIPULATION AND COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
               Northern, the OCA (together referred to as the Parties)
     and the Staff, representing all of the full participants in this
     docket signed a Stipulation and Comprehensive Settlement
     Agreement concerning the sale of the GRL by Northern to Granite,
     and as a resolution of all issues in this docket.
               The Parties and Staff agreed that the transfer of the
     GRL by Northern to Granite is in the public good and represents
     the best combination and balance of operational, financial and
     environmental considerations.  The Parties and Staff further
     agreed that (1) Northern will be a principal beneficiary of the
     new interstate pipeline transportation capacity provided by
     PNGTS; (2) Northern will experience significant operational
     benefits from the transaction by provision of a source of new gas
     supply for all of Northern's customers, via more than 35
     interconnections with Granite, and improving Northern's system
     pressures, particularly in Maine and New Hampshire; (3) of the
     alternative sites that were available for consideration, the
     proposal for Northern to transfer the GRL to Granite is the least
     expensive to both Northern and Granite; and (4) the proposed
     transfer will enable Granite to avoid substantial costs on behalf
     of Northern which would have otherwise been passed on to
     Northern's New Hampshire and Maine customers and to its parent's,
     Bay State Gas, customers.  In addition to reduced costs, among
     the alternative sites that were available for consideration, the
     proposal for Northern to transfer the GRL to Granite was the most
     environmentally preferable.
               The Parties and Staff further agreed that the transfer
     of the GRL at net book value was appropriate under the
     circumstances.  The portion of the GRL that is currently in rate
     base will be removed from Northern's rate base through the
     Company's next bare steel step adjustment.  Northern agreed to
     provide a complete accounting of the transfer to Staff and the
     OCA, subject to Commission approval.
               Regarding bypass issues, the Parties and Staff agreed
     that it is very unlikely that the transfer of the GRL to Granite
     will create any additional bypass opportunities, although some
     may occur.  It is Northern's understanding that Granite will not
     be soliciting any of Northern's customers for bypass along the
     GRL.  Northern agreed to report to the Commission and the OCA any
     Granite filing with the FERC to connect a new customer to the GRL
     for the next five (5) years or until such time as Granite is
     acquired by Northern, whichever comes first.
               At the hearing on February 4, 1999, Mr. LaShoto and Mr.
     Deans testified in support of the Agreement.  Mr. LaShoto
     discussed alternatives to the transfer of the GRL noting their
     environmental and financial infirmities.  The proposed GRL
     transfer, he said, balanced the need for additional supplies from
     PNGTS, expected by March 1, 1999, into Northern's system, while
     doing so in the least costly, best operational manner, providing
     improved service and increased supplies and pressure.  The cost
     of the extension to serve the Atlantic Gymnastics Training Center
     directly from Northern's local system will be borne by Northern,
     since it is a safety issue not related to the transfer, and will
     not be included in base rates until Northern files a rate case. 
     Northern will continue to leak survey the GRL along with its own
     parallel main, as it does now, because the additional cost is de
     minimis.  Pursuant to a request from the bench at the hearing,
     the Company has provided a letter from Granite confirming that
     Granite would not be soliciting any of Northern's customers for
     bypass along the GRL. 
               Regarding the financial impact of the transfer, Mr.
     Deans testified that once the GRL is removed from rate base in
     the Company's next bare steel step adjustment which is expected
     sometime this fall, pursuant to Order No. 20,546 in Docket DR
     91-081, Re Northern utilities, Inc., 77 NH PUC 366 (1992),
     Northern's revenue requirement would be reduced by nearly
     $60,000.  According to Mr. Deans, once the GRL is included in
     Granite's rate base, however, approximately $4,600 will be passed
     on to Northern's New Hampshire customers given the present FERC
     allocation formula.  Mr. Deans was unaware of any specific plans
     for a Granite rate case at this time.  
     IV.  COMMISSION ANALYSIS
               In Order No. 22,436 in Docket DE 95-346, Re Northern
     Utilities, Inc., 81 NH PUC 1003 (1996), the Commission recognized
     that Northern's process in evaluating and selecting PNGTS as a
     supply resource was consistent with least cost planning. 
     Likewise, the Company's proposal to transfer the GRL to Granite
     represents the least cost approach to an interconnection in New
     Hampshire, while providing system improvements and avoiding the
     environmental issues and costs associated with other
     alternatives.  Although the value of the GRL will remain in rate
     base until the next bare steel step adjustment, the impact on
     rates is de minimis in the interim, and will result in a lower
     bare steel step adjustment.  
               The MPUC approved the transfer by its Order in its
     Docket No. 98-921 on February 2, 1999.  We also approve the
     Agreement and the transfer of the GRL from Northern to Granite. 
     Inclusion of the GRL in Granite's system will enable Northern to
     benefit from the additional pressure and gas supply throughout
     Northern's system, and reduce the need for expensive winter
     peaking supplies.
               Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby 
               ORDERED, that the Stipulation and Comprehensive
     Settlement Agreement, entered into by the Parties and Staff,
     agreeing to the transfer of the GRL from Northern to Granite is
     APPROVED; and it is 
               FURTHER ORDERED, that the portion of the GRL that is
     currently in rate base shall be removed from Northern's rate base
     through the Company's next bare steel step adjustment; and it is
     
               FURTHER ORDERED, that the transfer of the GRL at net
     book value at the date of the transfer is appropriate under the
     circumstances; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that Northern shall provide a complete
     accounting of the transfer to Staff and the OCA, subject to
     Commission approval; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that Granite shall not solicit any of
     Northern's customers for bypass along the GRL; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that Northern shall report to the
     Commission and the OCA any Granite filing with the FERC to
     connect a new customer to the GRL for the next five (5) years or
     until such time as Granite is acquired by Northern, whichever
     comes first; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that the main extension to serve the
     Atlantic Gymnastics Training Center shall be completed as soon as
     practicable with the costs of such extension not being included
     in Northern's rates until Northern's next base rate proceeding at
     which time the costs associated with the main shall be reviewed.
               By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this nineteenth day of February, 1999.
     
     
     
     
                                                                      
           Douglas L. Patch       Susan S. Geiger     Nancy Brockway
               Chairman           Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     Attested by:
     
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary