DR 98-015
                                     
                       EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc.
                                     
                    1998 SUMMER COST OF GAS ADJUSTMENT
                                     
                Order Approving the Cost of Gas Adjustment
                          and Monthly Adjustments
                                     
                         O R D E R   N O.  22,890
                                     
                              March 31, 1998
     
         APPEARANCES: McLane, Graf, Raulerson, and Middleton by
     Steven V. Camerino, Esq., on behalf of EnergyNorth Natural Gas,
     Inc.; and Michelle A. Caraway and Stephen P. Frink for the Staff
     of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.
     
     I.   PROCEDURAL HISTORY
               On February 17, 1998, EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc.
     (ENGI or the Company) filed with the New Hampshire Public
     Utilities Commission (Commission) its Cost of Gas Adjustment
     (CGA) for the 1998 summer period.  Accompanying its CGA filing
     was a Motion for Protective Order and Confidential Treatment,
     which was granted February 24, 1998 (Order No. 22,859).  ENGI's
     filing included the direct testimony and supporting attachments
     of Mark G. Savoie, Rate Analyst, and Donald E. Carroll, Vice
     President of Gas Supply.
               An Order of Notice was issued on February 27, 1998. 
     ENGI informed customers of the impending change by publishing a
     copy of the Order of Notice in the Union Leader on March 2, 1998.
               Apart from the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) which
     is a statutorily recognized intervenor, there were no intervenors
     in this docket.  A duly noticed hearing on the merits was held at
     the Commission on March 23, 1998.
     II.  POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES AND STAFF
          EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc.
               ENGI witnesses Mark G. Savoie, Rate Analyst, and Donald
     E. Carroll, Vice President of Gas Supply, addressed the following
     issues: a) calculation of the Firm Sales CGA and the impact on
     customer bills; b) factors contributing to the decreased rate;
     and c) monthly adjustments to the CGA rate.
          A.   Calculation and Impact of the Firm Sales CGA
               The proposed 1998 summer CGA credit of $0.0192 per
     therm was calculated by increasing the anticipated cost of gas of
     $13,510,913 by net adjustments of $98,912 and dividing the
     resulting anticipated gas costs of $13,609,825 by projected therm
     sales of 36,380,746 to arrive at a cost of gas of $0.3741 per
     therm, and then deducting the base summer cost of gas of $0.3933
     per therm.
               ENGI's proposed 1998 summer CGA is a credit of $0.0192
     per therm for Firm Sales, representing a decrease of $0.0206 per
     therm from the 1997 summer CGA charge of $0.0014 per therm.
               The proposed firm sales CGA rate of ($0.0192) will
     reduce an average residential heating customer's monthly gas bill
     by approximately $1.01, or 2.95 percent.
          B.   Factors Contributing to the Decreased CGA
               Projected gas costs and therm sales for the 1998 summer
     period vary only slightly from those forecasted and experienced
     during the 1997 summer period.  Only two adjusting items changed
     significantly, with the net impact being a $0.0200 per therm
     decrease in the proposed CGA rate.
               The 1998 summer CGA calculation includes a prior period
     under collection of $129,425, compared to a prior period under
     collection of $2,342,390 in the 1997 summer CGA calculation, a
     $2,212,965 decrease resulting in a $.0619 per therm decrease in
     the proposed 1998 summer CGA rate.
               The 1998 summer CGA calculation does not anticipate any
     supplier refunds; the 1997 summer CGA calculation included a
     projected supplier refund of $1,500,000.
          C.   Monthly Adjustments to the CGA Rate
               ENGI proposed that it have the ability to adjust the
     approved CGA rate upward or downward monthly based on the
     Company's calculation of the projected over or under collection
     for the period and applied on a bills rendered basis.  Under
     ENGI's proposal, the adjusted CGA rate would not increase or
     decrease by more than plus or minus 10% of the approved unit cost
     of gas.  Should the projected over or under calculation for the
     period exceed 10% of the approved total anticipated cost of gas,
     the Company would file with the Commission for a change in the
     CGA rate.  The filing would be contingent upon Commission Staff's
     (Staff) determination that the ensuing procedural schedule would
     allow for an order to be issued by the Commission prior to the
     first day of the last month of the CGA period.
               Company witness Mark Savoie explained that the proposed
     change to the CGA mechanism would better match gas cost revenues
     with actual gas costs, thereby minimizing over and under
     recoveries that are carried forward into subsequent periods.  Mr.
     Savoie prepared a schedule (Exhibit No. 6) demonstrating what the
     likely impact would have been on the average residential heating
     customer and the anticipated over recovery for the 1997/1998
     winter period if the proposed CGA mechanism had been in place. 
     Customers would have experienced a rate decrease in each of the
     final three months of the winter period resulting in overall
     savings of $20, or 3.3%, for the winter period, and the over
     collection to be carried forward would have been $123,466 rather
     than the anticipated $2,354,316.
               ENGI asserts that having the ability to change the
     rates on a monthly basis to more accurately reflect market prices
     will send proper price signals, reduce carrying costs, reduce
     inter-generational subsidies and stabilize rates.
               Currently, CGA rates are based on projected gas costs
     and volumes, as well as other related items such as supplier
     refunds and margins earned on 280 day service.  Natural gas
     prices are extremely volatile and increases and decreases often
     parallel oil and propane prices.  Customers are accustomed to
     seeing oil and propane prices fluctuate and can respond
     accordingly, either through cutting back when prices are high or
     purchasing supplies at a fixed price.  Currently, natural gas
     customers are assigned a fixed rate for the period and unless
     there is a substantial projected over or under collection and the
     gas company files for, and receives Commission approval of, a
     revised CGA, gas customers do not pay the related increase or
     decrease until the following related season.
               ENGI has proposed revising customer bills to reflect
     the total gas cost and non-gas costs portions of the bill.  The
     new bills and monthly adjustments are designed to help customers
     identify the gas portion of the bill and to better recognize the
     price fluctuations associated with natural gas.  The revised
     customer bills and the proposed monthly adjustment may help
     educate customers regarding what their actual gas costs are and
     the volatility of those costs.  As the industry moves further
     towards competition, customers will be better prepared to assess
     other pricing and supply alternatives that may become available
     to them.  In a separate filing, ENGI has proposed to offer a rate
     stability plan in which customers would have the option of
     locking in a rate for the winter period, thereby avoiding period
     price risks. 
               The refund or recovery of any over or under collection
     also includes carrying costs, which can be substantial on large
     over or under collections.  In a scheduled prepared by Mr. Savoie
     (Exhibit No. 8), a review of the carrying costs related to the 
     over and under collections for the past five years was presented
     which illustrated the carrying costs ranging from a low of
     $11,001 on last summer's under collection of $129,425 to a high
     of $324,708 on the 1994/1995 over collection of $3,658,682. 
     These carrying costs exaggerate the increase or decrease in the
     CGA rate associated with over and under collections. 
               Over and under collections that are carried forward
     result in inter-generational subsidies.  Customers that have
     contributed to the over or under collection and leave the system
     do not contribute to the recovery or receive a refund. 
     Similarly, new customers either pay for costs that were not
     incurred on their behalf or receive an unearned benefit through a
     refund.  Reducing over and under recoveries should reduce these
     subsidies.
               The price of gas remains the same under either the
     current CGA mechanism or the proposed monthly CGA mechanism.  The
     proposed mechanism could potentially result in more changes of
     less magnitude, whereas the current mechanism often results in
     larger inter-seasonal swings.  ENGI does not intend to change the
     monthly rate if the projected over or under collection is not
     significant.  If the projected over or under collection becomes
     substantial, the Company would make a correction in the following
     month, thereby recovering a portion of the projected over or
     under recovery during that month.  If in a later month the 10%
     trigger mechanism is exceeded, the Company would have already
     refunded or recovered a portion of the projected over or under
     recovery which will reduce the amount to be recovered or refunded
     over the remaining months.  Under the current CGA mechanism, the
     entire projected over or under recovery would have to be
     recovered over the remaining months.
               ENGI would also benefit in the non-gas related area of
     being better able to predict its tax liability and make more
     accurate estimated tax payments, reducing the risk of tax
     penalties.  Any associated savings would likely benefit the
     ratepayer in a general rate case.
               ENGI asserts that use of a monthly CGA mechanism would
     be consistent with New Hampshire statutes and administrative
     rules.  Because the rate could not exceed 10% above the rate in
     effect at the start of the CGA period, there is no danger that
     ratepayers would be subjected to a new, higher rate without the
     opportunity for notice and hearing as provided for in RSA 378:3. 
     Similar capped rates have been in effect for many years at the
     Commission, notably rates for interruptible sales and 280 day
     service.  
               In addition, ENGI notes that N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc
     1203.02(f) provides for CGA rates to be adjusted as frequently as
     determined by the Commission.   While the practice has been for
     two CGA changes per year, it would appear that the Commission
     envisioned the possibility of a CGA rate being set more
     frequently.  A monthly adjustment to the CGA, according to ENGI,
     therefore, is consistent with the Commission's statutory
     obligations and administrative rules.
          Staff
               After a thorough review of the filing and subsequent
     discovery, Staff indicated at the hearing that it believes ENGI's
     gas purchasing policies are sound and reasonable and that the
     Company is utilizing its available resources in a manner which
     minimizes gas costs.  Staff also believes that the proposed 1998
     summer CGA credit of $0.0192 per therm is reasonable and should
     be approved.
               Staff supports ENGI's proposal that it be allowed to
     adjust the CGA rate on a monthly basis in order to minimize any
     over or under recoveries and better match gas cost revenues with
     actual gas costs.
          OCA
               While unable to attend the hearing, the OCA asked Staff
     to read the following statement into the record on its behalf:
     "Although the OCA has not been heavily involved in this ENGI CGA
     filing, we understand that company's proposal to be an automatic,
     albeit minor, self-correcting trigger mechanism subject to
     reconciliation.  As such, we generally support it as a trial as
     long as changes are only made when significant over or under
     collections are anticipated."
     III. COMMISSION ANALYSIS
               After having reviewed the record, we conclude that
     ENGI's proposed 1998 Summer CGA is consistent with its previous
     performance relative to minimizing gas costs.  Accordingly, we
     accept and approve ENGI's proposed 1998 Summer CGA rate of
     ($0.0192) per therm.  We also find that ENGI's proposed revision
     to the CGA mechanism is reasonable and in the public good.
               Allowing the Company the ability to make monthly
     adjustments to the CGA rate, within a ten percent (10%) limit,
     better serves the purpose for which the cost of gas adjustment
     was first implemented; i.e., to more accurately reflect seasonal
     use patterns and costs and prevent continuous rate increase
     filings.  Gas costs remain unchanged and continue to be passed
     through to ratepayers on a dollar-for-dollar basis under each
     mechanism; however, the primary difference is the timing of those
     recoveries.  By enabling the Company to pass along fluctuations
     in gas costs on a monthly basis, the Company will be better able
     to match those costs with the appropriate customers and to
     minimize the over and under collections and associated carrying
     costs.
               In recent years, the commodities market has experienced
     dramatic price fluctuations in natural gas.  Actual gas costs
     exceeded projections so drastically during the 1996/1997 winter
     period that all of New Hampshire's local distribution companies
     submitted revised mid-winter CGA filings to avoid substantial
     under recoveries.  And even in seasons where the over or under
     recoveries have not exceeded ten percent, thereby requiring a
     revised CGA filing, substantial over and under recoveries have
     resulted in large inter-seasonal swings.  We have previously
     sought to stabilize gas prices through approval of hedging
     policies and believe that allowing monthly adjustments to the CGA
     rate will further stabilize gas costs and is consistent with
     prior orders.  
               In a separate filing, ENGI has proposed a price
     stability plan that is designed to work similar to "pre-buy" oil
     programs, affording customers the opportunity to lock-in fixed
     prices for the winter period.  Monthly adjustments that reflect
     actual gas costs will allow customers the ability to better value
     such a service.
               Lastly, the CGA mechanism is reviewed at least twice a
     year.  Once the revised CGA mechanism has been implemented and
     observed over a reasonable period of time, it will be re-evaluated to determine if it is achieving the desired results and
     should be continued.       
               Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby 
               ORDERED, that ENGI's Eighth Revised Page 32 superseding
     Seventh Revised Page 32, N.H.P.U.C. tariff of EnergyNorth Natural
     Gas, Inc. providing for a Summer 1998 Cost of Gas Adjustment
     credit of $0.0192 per therm for the period April 1, 1998 through
     October 31, 1998 is hereby approved; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that ENGI may adjust the approved CGA
     rate of ($0.0192) upward or downward monthly based on ENGI's
     calculation of the projected over or under collection for the
     period, but the cumulative adjustments shall not exceed ten
     percent (10%) of the approved unit cost of gas of $0.3741 per
     therm ($0.0374 per therm); and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that ENGI will provide the Commission
     with its monthly calculation of the projected over or under
     calculation, along with the resulting revised CGA rate for the
     subsequent month, not less than five (5) business days prior to
     the first day of the subsequent month.  ENGI shall include a
     revised tariff page 32 - Calculation of Cost of Gas Adjustment
     for firm sales and revised firm rate schedules if the Company
     elects to adjust the CGA rate; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that the over or under collection
     shall accrue interest at the Prime Rate reported in the Wall
     Street Journal.  The rate is to be adjusted each quarter using
     the rate reported on the first date of the month preceding the
     first month of the quarter; and it is
                    FURTHER ORDERED, that should the monthly reconciliation
     of known and projected gas costs deviate from the ten percent
     (10%) trigger mechanism, ENGI shall file a revised CGA; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that the projected over or under
     collection in the calculation does not include any increases or
     decreases in revenues resulting from prior monthly adjustments;
     and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that filing a revised CGA is
     contingent upon the Commission's determination that the ensuing
     procedural schedule would allow for an order to be issued prior
     to the first day of the last month of the CGA period; and it is
               FURTHER ORDERED, that pending a Commission order
     revising the CGA rate, the Company may adjust the CGA rate to the
     extent that the rate shall not deviate more than ten percent
     (10%) from the approved unit cost of gas of $0.3741 per therm
     ($0.0374 per therm); and it is   
               FURTHER ORDERED, that ENGI shall file properly
     annotated tariff pages in compliance with this Order no later
     than 15 days from the issuance date of this Order, as required by
     N.H. Admin. Rules, Puc 1603. 
                    By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this thirty-first day of March, 1998.
     
     
     
     
                                                                     
        Douglas L. Patch    Bruce B. Ellsworth        Susan S. Geiger
            Chairman           Commissioner            Commissioner
     
     
     Attested by:
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary