DE 98-095
                                     
                          Manchester Water Works
                                     
          Petition to Extend Service Area in Town of Londonderry
                                     
                       Order Nisi Granting Petition
                                     
                         O R D E R   N O.  22,975
                                     
                               July 7, 1998

         The Petitioner, Manchester Water Works (Manchester or
Company), filed with the New Hampshire Public Utilities
Commission (Commission) on May 28, 1998, a petition to extend its
existing service area in the Town of Londonderry, New Hampshire. 
Manchester intends to provide service under its existing tariff
for customers outside its municipal boundaries to a limited area
in Londonderry bounded by the City of Manchester city limits and
the Company franchise of DE 94-064 to the northwest; the Town of
Auburn town line to the north; Company franchise of DE 86-189 to
the east; Company franchises of DE 97-156 and DE 87-144 to the
southeast; Company franchise of DE 85-45 to the south; and
Company franchise of IE 14,495 to the west.
         The Town of Londonderry has provided written support
for the proposed extension.  There is no other water utility
service in the proposed area.  In addition, the Department of
Environmental Services has confirmed the suitability and
availability of Manchester's water supplies.

         Based on the above facts, the Commission finds that
allowing Manchester to extend its service area as requested is in
the public good.
         Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby 
         ORDERED NISI, that Manchester's Petition to Extend
Service Area in the Town of Londonderry as described above is
granted; and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules,
Puc 1604.03 or Puc 1605.03, the Petitioner shall cause a copy of
this Order Nisi to be published once in a statewide newspaper of
general circulation or of circulation in those portions of the
state where operations are conducted, such publication to be no
later than July 14, 1998, 1998 and to be documented by affidavit
filed with this office on or before July 21, 1998; 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 July 28, 1998; and it
is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that any party interested in
responding to such comments or request for hearing shall do so no
later than August 4, 1998; and it is

         FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi shall be
effective August 6, 1998, unless the Commission provides
otherwise in a supplemental order issued prior to the effective
date.
         By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this seventh day of July, 1998.


                                                                             
                Douglas L. Patch     Bruce B. Ellsworth      Susan S. Geiger
                    Chairman            Commissioner           Commissioner

Attested by:



                                 
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary