DR 97-239
                                
                  BODWELL WASTE SERVICES CORP.
                                
            Petition for Permanent Increase in Rates
                                
          Order Suspending Proposed Tariff Revisions and
                Scheduling Prehearing Conference 
                                
                    O R D E R  N O. 22,858 
                                
                       February 23, 1998
                                
                                                    On January 13, 1998, Bodwell Waste Services Corp.
     (Bodwell or the Petitioner) filed with the Commission a petition
     seeking a permanent rate increase of approximately 41% which
     constitutes an increase in annual revenues of $19,585. 
       The filing raises, inter alia, issues regarding the
     reasonableness of the proposed rate increase including plant
     additions, operation and maintenance, rate of return, and a
     reduction in total buildout, as well as the timing of the
     proposal in relationship to anticipated expansion of the system
     into Londonderry.
       Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
               ORDERED, that the proposed tariff page of Bodwell Waste
     Services NHPUC tariff No.1 , Second Revised Page 8 be and hereby
     is suspended; and it is  
       FURTHERED ORDERED, that a Prehearing Conference,
     pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc 203.05, be held before the
     Commission located at 8 Old Suncook Road, Concord, New Hampshire
     on March 19, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., at which any one or more of the
     issues set forth in N.H. Admin Rule Puc 203.05(c) shall be
     considered; and it is
       FURTHER ORDERED, the Prehearing conference shall be
     tape recorded unless a party, at least 5 days in advance of the
Prehearing conference, requests a transcript, in which case the
Commission shall order a stenographic record, pursuant to N.H.
Admin. Rule Puc 203.05(d): and it is
     FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
203.01, Bodwell Waste Services notify all persons desiring to be
heard at this hearing by publishing a copy of this Order of
Notice no later than March 2, 1998, in a newspaper with statewide
circulation and of general circulation in that portion of the
state in which operations are conducted, publication to be
documented by affidavit filed with the Commission on or before
March 19, 1998; and it is
     FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin. Rules Puc
     203.02, any party seeking to intervene in the proceeding shall
     submit to the Commission an original and eight copies of a
     Petition to Intervene with copies sent to Bodwell and the Office
     of the Consumer Advocate on or before March 13, 1998, such
     Petition stating the facts demonstrating how its rights, duties,
     privileges, immunities or other substantial interests may be
     affected by the proceeding, as required by N.H. Admin. Rule Puc
     203.02 and RSA 541-A:32,I(b); and it is
          FURTHER ORDERED, that any party objecting to a Petition
     to Intervene make said Objection on or before March 19, 1998.
          By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this twenty-third day of February 1998.
     
     
     
                                                                    
       Douglas L. Patch      Bruce B. Ellsworth     Susan S. Geiger
           Chairman             Commissioner          Commissioner
     
     
     
     Attested by:
     
     
                                    
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary