INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-2 of our reports dated November 19, 1996 included (or incorporated by reference) in Fall River Gas Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996 and to all references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement. Arthur Andersen LLP Boston, Massachusetts September 18, 1997 (1) - ------------------------- (1) Date of the amended S-2