DR 97-241
                           DR 98-206
                           DC 98-198
                                
              Connecticut Valley Electric Company
                                
                    Order Scheduling Hearing
                                
                    O R D E R   N O.  23,195
                                
                         April 15, 1999
                                
       Following the issuance of Order No. 23,168 (March 22,
     1999), Connecticut Valley Electric Company (CVEC) sought and
     received an order from the United States District Court for the
     District of New Hampshire enjoining the Commission from reducing
     CVEC's rates below the rates that were in effect on December 31,
     1997.  Although the District Court has not yet issued its
     written order, the immediate effect of the Court's oral ruling is
     that the Commission may not at this time require CVEC to refund
     to customers the revenues that it overcollected during 1998.
       On April 9, 1999, CVEC filed proposed tariff pages that
     would, if approved: (a) eliminate the Rate Rider Refund (RRR)
     required by Order No. 23,168, (b) allow CVEC to recoup those
     revenues that were refunded to customers during the time the RRR
     was in effect, and (c) following such recoupment, maintain CVEC's
     retail rates at the temporary rate levels set in DR 98-206.
     CVEC's filing raises, inter alia, issues relating to the
     implementation of the District Court's order, including
     elimination of the RRR and whether the RRR recoupment mechanism
     is appropriate.  Due to the myriad of issues raised by the filing
     and the District Court's order, we believe a hearing is
     necessary.  Accordingly, the hearing scheduled below will address
     these issues.
       Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby 
       ORDERED, that a consolidated hearing be held at the
     Commission at 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New Hampshire on April
     22, 1999 at 10:00 a.m.; and it is 
       FURTHER ORDERED, that the Commission will also consider
     at the hearing whether to modify CVEC's existing temporary rates
     (set in DR 98-206) by returning the rates to the levels that were
     in effect on December 31, 1997; and it is 
       FURTHER ORDERED, that CVEC and any other party that
     desires to be heard on these issues should be prepared to present
     testimony and argument during the April 22, hearing.
       By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this fifteenth day of April, 1999. 
     
     
     
                                                                      
           Douglas L. Patch       Susan S. Geiger     Nancy Brockway
               Chairman           Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     Attested by:
     
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary