93012EC


                                SERVICE AGREEMENT
                       (APPLICABLE TO RATE SCHEDULE AFT-E)

     This Agreement  ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 31st day of
     October,  1997, by and between  Algonquin Gas Transmission  Company,  a
     Delaware  Corporation  (herein  called  "Algonquin"),  and The Southern
     Connecticut Gas Company (herein called  "Customer"  whether one or more
     persons).

     WHEREAS,  pursuant to a settlement  agreement approved on July 8, 1994,
     by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Docket Nos. RP93-14-000,
     et al.,  Algonquin  and Customer  entered  into two Service  Agreements
     (93012E and 9W010E)  dated  September 1, 1994,  for service  under Rate
     Schedule AFT-E; and

     WHEREAS,  to enhance both parties'  ability to administer,  among other
     things,  nominations  and  capacity  releases,  Algonquin  and Customer
     desire to combine  the two  aforementioned  Service  Agreements  into a
     single service agreement for service under Rate Schedule AFT-E

     WHEREAS,  Algonquin  and  Customer  desire  to  execute  a  superseding
     combined service agreement under Rate Schedule AFT-E;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and of the mutual
     covenants herein contained, the parties do agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                               SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

     1.1      Subject to the terms, conditions and limitations hereof and of
              Algonquin's  Rate Schedule AFT-E,  Algonquin agrees to receive
              from or for the account of Customer  for  transportation  on a
              firm basis  quantities  of natural gas tendered by Customer on
              any  day  at  the  Point(s)  of  Receipt;  provided,  however,
              Customer  shall  not  tender  without  the  prior  consent  of
              Algonquin,  at any Point of Receipt  on any day a quantity  of
              natural gas in excess of the applicable  Maximum Daily Receipt
              Obligation for such Point of Receipt plus the applicable  Fuel
              Reimbursement  Quantity;  and provided  further that  Customer
              shall not tender at all Point(s) of Receipt on any day or in
              any year a cumulative quantity  of  natural  gas,   without
              the  prior  consent  of Algonquin,  in excess of the  following
              quantities of natural gas plus the applicable Fuel Reimbursement
              Quantities:

                  Maximum Daily Transportation Quantity (MMBtu)

                        Nov 16 - Apr 15           45,593*
                        Apr 16 - May 31           39,196
                        Jun  1 - Sep 30           26,403
                        Oct  1 - Nov 15           39,196

              *MDTQ to be utilized in applying monthly Reservation Charge

                 Maximum Annual Transportation Quantity     13,711,741 MMBtu

     1.2      Algonquin  agrees  to  transport  and  deliver  to or for  the
              account of Customer at the  Point(s) of Delivery  and Customer
              agrees  to  accept  or cause  acceptance  of  delivery  of the
              quantity  received  by  Algonquin  on any  day,  less the Fuel
              Reimbursement Quantities;  provided,  however, Algonquin shall
              not be  obligated  to deliver at any Point of  Delivery on any
              day a  quantity  of  natural  gas in excess of the  applicable
              Maximum Daily Delivery Obligation.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                TERM OF AGREEMENT

     2.1      This Agreement shall become effective as of the date set forth
              hereinabove  and shall continue in effect for a term ending on
              and  including  October  31, 2012  ("Primary  Term") and shall
              remain in force from year to year thereafter unless terminated
              by either  party by  written  notice one year or more prior to
              the end of the Primary Term or any successive term thereafter.
              Algonquin's right to cancel this Agreement upon the expiration
              of the  Primary  Term hereof or any  succeeding  term shall be
              subject to Customer's  rights  pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of
              the General Terms and Conditions.

     2.2      This  Agreement  may be terminated at any time by Algonquin in
              the event  Customer  fails to pay part or all of the amount of
              any bill for service  hereunder and such failure continues for
              thirty days after payment is due; provided Algonquin gives ten
              days prior written notice to Customer of such  termination and
              provided further such  termination  shall not be effective if,
              prior to the date of  termination,  Customer  either pays such
              outstanding  bill or  furnishes a good and  sufficient  surety
              bond  guaranteeing  payment to Algonquin  of such  outstanding
              bill;  provided  that  Algonquin  shall  not  be  entitled  to
              terminate service pending the resolution of a disputed bill if
              Customer complies with the billing dispute procedure currently
              on file in Algonquin's tariff.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                  RATE SCHEDULE

     3.1      Customer  shall  pay  Algonquin  for  all  services   rendered
              hereunder  and for the  availability  of  such  service  under
              Algonquin's  Rate  Schedule  AFT-E as filed  with the  Federal
              Energy Regulatory  Commission and as the same may be hereafter
              revised  or  changed.  The  rate to be  charged  Customer  for
              transportation  hereunder  shall not be more than the  maximum
              rate under Rate Schedule AFT-E, nor less than the minimum rate
              under Rate Schedule AFT-E.

     3.2      This  Agreement  and all terms  and  provisions  contained  or
              incorporated   herein  are  subject  to  the   provisions   of
              Algonquin's  applicable  rate  schedules  and  of  Algonquin's
              General Terms and  Conditions on file with the Federal  Energy
              Regulatory Commission,  or other duly constituted  authorities
              having jurisdiction, and as the same may be legally amended or
              superseded,   which  rate  schedules  and  General  Terms  and
              Conditions are by this reference made a part hereof.

     3.3      Customer agrees that Algonquin shall have the unilateral right
              to file with the  appropriate  regulatory  authority  and make
              changes  effective in (a) the rates and charges  applicable to
              service  pursuant to  Algonquin's  Rate  Schedule  AFT-E,  (b)
              Algonquin's  Rate  Schedule  AFT-E,  pursuant to which service
              hereunder  is  rendered  or (c) any  provision  of the General
              Terms  and  Conditions  applicable  to  Rate  Schedule  AFT-E.
              Algonquin  agrees  that  Customer  may  protest or contest the
              aforementioned  filings,  or may seek  authorization from duly
              constituted  regulatory  authorities  for such  adjustment  of
              Algonquin's existing FERC Gas Tariff as may be found necessary
              to assure that the  provisions  in (a),  (b), or (c) above are
              just and reasonable.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                               POINT(S) OF RECEIPT

     Natural  gas to be received  by  Algonquin  for the account of Customer
     hereunder  shall  be  received  at the  outlet  side  of the  measuring
     station(s)  at or near the  Primary  Point(s)  of Receipt  set forth in
     Exhibit A of the  service  agreement,  with the Maximum  Daily  Receipt
     Obligation and the receipt pressure obligation  indicated for each such
     Primary  Point of Receipt.  Natural gas to be received by Algonquin for
     the  account of Customer  hereunder  may also be received at the outlet
     side of any other measuring station on the Algonquin system, subject to
     reduction pursuant to Section 6.2 of Rate Schedule AFT-E.

                                    ARTICLE V
                              POINT(S) OF DELIVERY

     Natural gas to be delivered  by  Algonquin  for the account of Customer
     hereunder  shall  be  delivered  on the  outlet  side of the  measuring
     station(s)  at or near the Primary  Point(s)  of Delivery  set forth in
     Exhibit B of the service  agreement,  with the Maximum  Daily  Delivery
     Obligation and the delivery pressure obligation indicated for each such
     Primary Point of Delivery.

     Natural gas to be delivered  by  Algonquin  for the account of Customer
     hereunder  may  also be  delivered  at the  outlet  side  of any  other
     measuring  station  on  the  Algonquin  system,  subject  to  reduction
     pursuant to Section 6.4 of Rate Schedule AFT-E.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                    ADDRESSES

     Except as herein otherwise provided or as provided in the General Terms
     and Conditions of  Algonquin's  FERC Gas Tariff,  any notice,  request,
     demand,  statement,  bill or payment provided for in this Agreement, or
     any notice which any party may desire to give to the other, shall be in
     writing  and  shall be  considered  as duly  delivered  when  mailed by
     registered,  certified,  or first class mail to the post office address
     of the parties hereto, as the case may be, as follows:

       (a)      Algonquin:     Algonquin Gas Transmission Company
                               5400 Westheimer Court
                               Houston, TX 77056
                               Attn:  Danielle Kappus
                                      Contract Administration


        (b)     Customer:      The Southern Connecticut Gas Company
                               855 Main Street
                               Bridgeport, CT  06604
                               Attn:  Salvatore A. Ardigliano
                               Vice President, Gas Supply & Marketing Services

     or such other address as either party shall designate by formal written
     notice.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                 INTERPRETATION

     The  interpretation  and  performance  of  the  Agreement  shall  be in
     accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  of   Massachusetts,
     excluding   conflicts  of  law   principles   that  would  require  the
     application of the laws of a different jurisdiction.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                           AGREEMENTS BEING SUPERSEDED

     When this Agreement becomes effective, it shall supersede the following
     agreements between the parties hereto.

     Service Agreements 93012E and 9W010E executed by Customer and Algonquin
     under Rate Schedule AFT-E dated September 1, 1994.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
     signed by their respective  agents  thereunto duly authorized,  the day
     and year first above written.


                                       ALGONQUIN GAS TRANSMISSION COMPANY

                                       By:  /s/ Robert B. Evans
                                       Title:  Senior Vice President


                                       THE SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT GAS COMPANY

                                       By:  /s/ Sal A. Ardigliano
                                       Title:  Vice President, Gas Supply &
                                               Marketing Services


                                SERVICE AGREEMENT
                       (APPLICABLE TO RATE SCHEDULE AFT-E)


                                    Exhibit A
                               Point(s) of Receipt

                             Dated: October 31, 1997


           To the service agreement under Rate Schedule AFT-E between
               Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) and
 The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (Customer) concerning Point(s) of Receipt


Primary                  Maximum Daily          Maximum
Point of                 Receipt Obligation     Receipt Pressure
Receipt                       (MMBtu)                (Psig)

Hanover, NJ (TETCO)                             At any pressure requested
     Nov 16 - Apr 15           21,122           by Algonquin but not in
     Apr 16 - May 31           17,437           excess of 750 Psig.
     Jun  1 - Sep 30           10,068
     Oct  1 - Nov 15           17,437

Lambertville, NJ                                At any pressure requested
     Nov 16 - Apr 15           24,471           by Algonquin but not in
     Apr 16 - May 31           21,759           excess of 750 Psig.
     Jun  1 - Sep 30           16,335
     Oct  1 - Nov 15           21,759



Signed for Identification

Algonquin:  /s/ Robert B. Evans

Customer:  /s/ Sal A. Ardigliano


                                SERVICE AGREEMENT
                       (APPLICABLE TO RATE SCHEDULE AFT-E)


                                    Exhibit B
                              Point(s) of Delivery

                             Dated: October 31, 1997


           To the service agreement under Rate Schedule AFT-E between
               Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) and
 The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (Customer) concerning Point(s) of Delivery


Primary                  Maximum Daily           Minimum
Point of                 Delivery Obligation     Delivery Pressure
Delivery                      (MMBtu)                 (Psig)

On the outlet side
of meter stations
located at:

North Haven, CT                   199
     Nov 16 - Apr 15           29,037
     Apr 16 - May 31           24,606
     Jun  1 - Sep 30           15,745
     Oct  1 - Nov 15           24,606

Defco Industrial Park
North Haven, CT                    50
     Nov 16 - Apr 15            1,696
     Apr 16 - May 31            1,630
     Jun  1 - Sep 30            1,497
     Oct  1 - Nov 15            1,630



Signed for Identification

Algonquin:  /s/ Robert B. Evans

Customer:  /s/ Sal A. Ardigliano


                                SERVICE AGREEMENT
                       (APPLICABLE TO RATE SCHEDULE AFT-E)


                                    Exhibit B
                              Point(s) of Delivery
                                   (Continued)

                             Dated: October 31, 1997


           To the service agreement under Rate Schedule AFT-E between
               Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) and
 The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (Customer) concerning Point(s) of Delivery


Primary                  Maximum Daily           Minimum
Point of                 Delivery Obligation     Delivery Pressure
Delivery                      (MMBtu)                 (Psig)

Milford, New Haven
County, CT                        100
     Nov 16 - Apr 15            7,474  (Not to
     Apr 16 - May 31            7,181  exceed 312
     Jun  1 - Sep 30            6,595  MMBtu per
     Oct  1 - Nov 15            7,181  hour)

Guilford, CT                      100
     Nov 16 - Apr 15           11,551
     Apr 16 - May 31            9,781
     Jun  1 - Sep 30            6,241
     Oct  1 - Nov 15            9,781



Signed for Identification

Algonquin:  /s/ Robert B. Evans

Customer:  /s/ Sal A. Ardigliano