LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
           TO ACCOMPANY SHARES OF 4.10% CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
                                      OF
                                PG ENERGY INC.
                  TENDERED PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE
                             DATED MARCH 11, 1996

        THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW
        YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1996, UNLESS THE OFFER IS
                                  EXTENDED.


         TO: CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., DEPOSITARY



                                                              
By Mail:                       By Facsimile Transmission:           By Hand or Overnight Courier:
Reorganization Department      (For Eligible Institutions Only)     Reorganization Department
P.O. Box 837                   (201) 296-4293                       120 Broadway
Midtown Station                To Confirm Receipt of Facsimile:     13th Floor
New York, NY 10018             (201) 296-4100                       New York, NY 10271






                                                     
                         DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED
                                                           
                       Shares Tendered                          
           (Attach additional list, if necessary)                    Print Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)
                
                   Total Number of Shares      Number of 
 Certificate          Represented by             Shares                          (Please fill in exactly as name(s)
  Number(s)*          Certificate(s)*          Tendered**                            appear(s) on certificate(s))








 Total Shares:

*    Need not be completed by stockholders  tendering by book-entry transfer.

**   Unless otherwise indicated,  it will be assumed that all Shares represented
     by any  certificate  delivered to the  Depositary are being  tendered.  See
     Instruction 4.




   Delivery of this  instrument  to an address  other than as set forth above or
transmission  of instructions  via a facsimile  number other than the one listed
above will not constitute a valid delivery. 


   The  Instructions  accompanying  this  Letter of  Transmittal  should be read
carefully before the Letter of Transmittal is completed.

     This  Letter  of  Transmittal  is to be  used  if  certificates  are  to be
forwarded  herewith or if delivery of Shares (as defined below) is to be made by
book-entry transfer to the Depositary's  account at The Depository Trust Company
("DTC") or the  Philadelphia  Depository  Trust  Company  ("PDTC")  (hereinafter
collectively  referred to as the "Book-Entry Transfer  Facilities")  pursuant to
the  procedures  set forth in  Section 6 of the Offer to  Purchase  (as  defined
below).

   Stockholders who cannot deliver their Shares and all other documents required
hereby to the  Depositary  by the  Expiration  Date (as  defined in the Offer to
Purchase) must tender their Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure
set forth in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase.  See Instruction 2. Delivery of
documents  to  the  Company  or  to a  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility  does  not
constitute a valid delivery.

             (BOXES BELOW FOR USE BY ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)


[ ]  CHECK  HERE  IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY  TRANSFER
     TO THE  DEPOSITARY's  ACCOUNT AT ONE OF THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITIES
     AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     Name of Tendering Institution _____________________________________________

     Check Applicable Box: [ ] DTC [ ] PDTC

     Account No. _______________________________________________________________

     Transaction Code No. ______________________________________________________

[ ]  CHECK  HERE IF  TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
     GUARANTEED  DELIVERY  PREVIOUSLY  SENT TO THE  DEPOSITARY  AND COMPLETE THE
     FOLLOWING:

     Name(s) of Tendering Stockholder(s) _______________________________________

     Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery ________________________

     Name of Institution that Guaranteed Delivery ______________________________

     If delivery is by book-entry transfer:
     Name of Tendering Institution _____________________________________________

     Account No. at [ ] DTC [ ] PDTC

     Transaction Code No.


                    NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.
              PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

                                        2


Ladies and Gentleman:


     The   undersigned   hereby  tenders  to  PG  Energy  Inc.,  a  Pennsylvania
corporation   formerly  known  as  Pennsylvania   Gas  and  Water  Company  (the
"Company"),  the above-described shares of its 4.10% Cumulative Preferred Stock,
par value $100.00 per share, voluntary liquidation preference $105.50 per share,
involuntary  liquidation preference $100.00 per share (the "Shares") pursuant to
the Company's offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding Shares at a price
per Share of $50.00,  net to the seller in cash,  upon the terms and  subject to
the  conditions  set forth in the Offer to  Purchase,  dated March 11, 1996 (the
"Offer  to  Purchase"),  receipt  of which is hereby  acknowledged,  and in this
Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Offer").

   Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of and payment for the
Shares  tendered  herewith  in  accordance  with the  terms and  subject  to the
conditions  of the Offer  (including,  if the Offer is extended or amended,  the
terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby
sells,  assigns and  transfers  to, or upon the order of, the Company all right,
title and interest in and to all the Shares that are being tendered  hereby (and
any and all other  Shares or other  securities  issued or  issuable  in  respect
thereof  on  or  after  March  16,  1996  (collectively,  "Distributions"))  and
constitutes   and  appoints  the  Depositary  the  true  and  lawful  agent  and
attorney-in-fact  of the  undersigned  with  respect  to  such  Shares  and  all
Distributions,  with full power of  substitution  (such power of attorney  being
deemed to be an  irrevocable  power  coupled with an  interest),  to (a) deliver
certificates  for such Shares and all  Distributions,  or transfer  ownership of
such Shares and all  Distributions on the account books maintained by any of the
Book-Entry  Transfer   Facilities,   together,   in  any  such  case,  with  all
accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the
Company,  (b) present such Shares and all  Distributions  for  registration  and
transfer on the books of the Company and (c) receive all benefits and  otherwise
exercise   all  rights  of   beneficial   ownership   of  such  Shares  and  all
Distributions, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. 

   The undersigned  hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
power and  authority to tender,  sell,  assign and transfer the Shares  tendered
hereby  and all  Distributions  and that,  when and to the  extent  the same are
accepted for payment by the Company,  the Company will acquire good,  marketable
and  unencumbered  title  thereto,  free and clear of all  liens,  restrictions,
charges,  encumbrances,   conditional  sales  agreements  or  other  obligations
relating  to the sale or transfer  thereof,  and the same will not be subject to
any adverse claims. The undersigned will, upon request,  execute and deliver any
additional  documents deemed by the Depositary or the Company to be necessary or
desirable to complete the sale,  assignment and transfer of the Shares  tendered
hereby and all Distributions.

   All  authority  herein  conferred  or  agreed  to be  conferred  shall not be
affected by, and shall survive the death or incapacity of the  undersigned,  and
any  obligation of the  undersigned  hereunder  shall be binding upon the heirs,
personal representatives,  successors and assigns of the undersigned.  Except as
stated in the Offer, this tender is irrevocable.


     The undersigned  understands  that tenders of Shares pursuant to any one of
the  procedures  described  in  Section  6 of the Offer to  Purchase  and in the
instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned|Als  acceptance of the terms
and  conditions of the Offer,  including the  undersigned's  representation  and
warranty  that (i) the  undersigned  has a net long position in the Shares being
tendered  within  the  meaning of Rule 14e-4  promulgated  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  and (ii) the tender of such Shares  complies
with Rule  14e-4.  The  Company's  acceptance  for  payment  of Shares  tendered
pursuant  to  the  Offer  will  constitute  a  binding   agreement  between  the
undersigned  and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer.

   The undersigned understands that tenders of Shares pursuant to any one of the
procedures  described  in  Section  6 of  the  Offer  to  Purchase  and  in  the
instructions hereto will constitute an agreement between the undersigned and the
Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.

                                        3


     Unless  otherwise  indicated under "Special Payment  Instructions,"  please
issue the check for the Purchase  Price of any Shares  purchased,  and/or return
any Shares not  tendered or not  purchased,  in the  name(s) of the  undersigned
(and, in the case of Shares  tendered by book-entry  transfer,  by credit to the
account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility designated above). Similarly, unless
otherwise indicated under "Special Delivery Instructions," please mail the check
for the  Purchase  Price of any Shares  purchased  and/or any  certificates  for
Shares  not  tendered  or  not  purchased  (and   accompanying   documents,   as
appropriate)  to the  undersigned  at the address shown below the  undersigned's
signature(s). In the event that both "Special Payment Instructions" and "Special
Delivery  Instructions"  are completed,  please issue the check for the Purchase
Price of any Shares  purchased  and/or  return any  Shares not  tendered  or not
purchased in the name(s) of, and mail said check and/or any certificates to, the
person(s)  so  indicated.  The  undersigned  recognizes  that the Company has no
obligation,  pursuant to the  "Special  Payment  Instructions,"  to transfer any
Shares from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if the Company does not
accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.






                                        4
 


                          SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
                         (See Instructions 5, 6 and 7)


   To be completed ONLY if the check for the Purchase Price of Shares  purchased
and/or certificates for Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in
the name of someone other than the undersigned.

Issue [ ] check and/or [ ] certificate(s) to:

Name ___________________________________________________________________________
          
________________________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)


Address ________________________________________________________________________
                               
_______________________________________________________________________________
                               (Include Zip Code)

________________________________________________________________________________
                   (Tax Identification or Social Security No.)





                          SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                          (See Instructions 5, 6 and 7)


   To be completed ONLY if the check for the Purchase Price of Shares  purchased
and/or the  certificates  for Shares not  tendered  or not  purchased  are to be
mailed to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address
other than that shown below the undersigned's signature(s).

Mail [ ] check and/or [ ] certificate(s) to:

Name ___________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)


Address ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
                               (Include Zip Code)




                              SOLICITED TENDERS
                             (SEE INSTRUCTION 10)

   The Company will pay to any Soliciting  Dealer, as defined in Instruction 10,
a  solicitation  fee of $0.50 per Share for each Share  tendered  and  purchased
pursuant to the Offer. 

   The  undersigned  represents  that the Soliciting  Dealer which solicited and
obtained this tender is:

Name of Firm: __________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)


Name of Individual Broker or Financial Consultant: _____________________________


Identification Number (if known): ______________________________________________


Address: _______________________________________________________________________
                               (Include Zip Code)

     The  following to be completed  ONLY if  customer's  Shares held in nominee
name are tendered.

              Name of Beneficial Owner     Number of Shares Tendered
                    (Attach additional list if necessary)


              _______________________     ___________________________

              _______________________     ___________________________

              _______________________     ___________________________


   The acceptance of compensation  by such  Soliciting  Dealer will constitute a
representation by it that: (i) it has complied with the applicable  requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable rules and
regulations  thereunder,  in  connection  with  such  solicitation;  (ii)  it is
entitled  to such  compensation  for  such  solicitation  under  the  terms  and
conditions of the Offer to Purchase;  (iii) in soliciting  tenders of Shares, it
has used no soliciting  materials other than those furnished by the Company; and
(iv) if it is a foreign  broker or dealer not  eligible  for  membership  in the
National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD"), it has agreed to
conform to the NASD|Als Rules of Fair Practice in making solicitations. 

   The payment of  compensation  to any  Soliciting  Dealer is dependent on such
Soliciting Dealer's returning a Notice of Solicited Tenders to the Depositary.







                                        6


                                  SIGN HERE
                 (PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 BELOW)



________________________________________________________________________________
                           Signature(s) of Owner(s)


________________________________________________________________________________


Dated: _________________, 1996


Name(s) ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
                                 (Please Print)


Capacity (full title) __________________________________________________________


Address ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
                               (Include Zip Code)


Area Code and Telephone No. ____________________________________________________


Must be signed by  registered  holder(s)  exactly as name(s)  appear(s) on stock
certificate(s) or on a security  position listing or by person(s)  authorized to
become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents  transmitted herewith.
If   signature   is   by   a   trustee,   executor,   administrator,   guardian,
attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary
or representative  capacity,  please set forth full title and see Instruction 5.


                          GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                          (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5)

Name of Firm ___________________________________________________________________


Authorized Signature ___________________________________________________________


Dated: ____________________, 1996



                                        7


                                 INSTRUCTIONS
            FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER


   1.  Guarantee  of  Signatures.   Except  as  otherwise  provided  below,  all
signatures on this Letter of Transmittal  must be guaranteed by a firm that is a
member of a registered national securities exchange or the National  Association
of Securities Dealers,  Inc., or by a commercial bank or trust company having an
office or  correspondent  in the  United  States  which is a  participant  in an
approved  Signature  Guarantee  Medallion  Program (an "Eligible  Institution").
Signatures  on this Letter of  Transmittal  need not be  guaranteed  (a) if this
Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares (which
term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in one of the
Book-Entry Transfer Facilities whose name appears on a security position listing
as the owner of Shares) tendered  herewith and such holder(s) have not completed
the box entitled  "Special Payment  Instructions"  or the box entitled  "Special
Delivery  Instructions"  on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are
tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

     2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Shares. This Letter of Transmittal
is to be used either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if delivery
of Shares is to be made by book-entry  transfer  pursuant to the  procedures set
forth in Section 6 of the Offer to  Purchase.  Certificates  for all  physically
delivered  Shares,  or  a  confirmation  of  a  book-entry   transfer  into  the
Depositary|Als  account  at one of the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facilities  of all
Shares  delivered  electronically,  as well as a  properly  completed  and  duly
executed  Letter of Transmittal  (or photocopy  thereof) and any other documents
required by this Letter of  Transmittal,  must be received by the  Depositary at
one of its addresses  set forth on the front page of this Letter of  Transmittal
on or prior  to the  Expiration  Date (as  defined  in the  Offer to  Purchase).
Stockholders who cannot deliver their Shares and all other required documents to
the  Depositary  on or prior to the  Expiration  Date must tender  their  Shares
pursuant  to the  guaranteed  delivery  procedure  set forth in Section 6 of the
Offer to Purchase.  Pursuant to such procedure:  (a) such tender must be made by
or through an Eligible  Institution,  (b) a properly completed and duly executed
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery  substantially in the form provided by the Company
(with any required  signature  guarantees) must be received by the Depositary on
or prior to the  Expiration  Date and (c) the  certificates  for all  physically
delivered  Shares,  or  a  confirmation  of  a  book-entry   transfer  into  the
Depositary's  account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities of all Shares
delivered  electronically,  as well as a properly  completed  and duly  executed
Letter of Transmittal (or photocopy thereof) and any other documents required by
this  Letter of  Transmittal  must be received by the  Depositary  within  three
business days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,
all as provided in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase.

   The method of delivery of Shares and all other  required  documents is at the
option and risk of the tendering  stockholder.  If  certificates  for Shares are
sent by mail,  registered mail with return receipt requested,  properly insured,
is recommended.

   No  alternative,  conditional  or  contingent  tenders will be  accepted.  By
executing this Letter of  Transmittal  (or a photocopy  thereof),  the tendering
stockholder waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance for payment
of the Shares. 

   3.  Inadequate  Space.  If the  space  provided  herein  is  inadequate,  the
certificate  numbers  and/or the number of Shares should be listed on a separate
schedule attached hereto.

   4. Partial Tenders (not  applicable to stockholders  who tender by book-entry
transfer). If fewer than all the Shares represented by any certificate delivered
to the Depositary  are to be tendered,  fill in the number of Shares that are to
be tendered in the box entitled "Number of Shares Tendered." In such case, a new
certificate  for the remainder of the Shares  represented by the old certificate
will be  sent to the  person(s)  signing  this  Letter  of  Transmittal,  unless
otherwise  provided in the "Special Payment  Instructions" or "Special  Delivery
Instructions"  boxes on this Letter of  Transmittal,  as promptly as practicable
following the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Shares  represented by
certificates  delivered to the  Depositary  will be deemed to have been tendered
unless otherwise indicated. 


                                        8


   5. Signatures on Letter of  Transmittal;  Stock Powers and  Endorsements.  If
this Letter of Transmittal  is signed by the registered  holder(s) of the Shares
hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face
of the certificates without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

   If any of the Shares  hereby are held of record by two or more  persons,  all
such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

   If any of the Shares  tendered  hereby are  registered in different  names on
different  certificates,  it will be necessary  to complete,  sign and submit as
many separate  Letters of  Transmittal as there are different  registrations  of
certificates.

   If this Letter of Transmittal  is signed by the  registered  holder(s) of the
Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers
are required  unless  payment of the Purchase  Price is to be made to, or Shares
not tendered or not  purchased  are to be  registered in the name of, any person
other than the  registered  holder(s).  Signatures on any such  certificates  or
stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
See Instruction 1.

   If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered
holder(s)  of the Shares  tendered  hereby,  certificates  must be  endorsed  or
accompanied by appropriate  stock powers,  in either case, signed exactly as the
name(s) of the  registered  holder(s)  appear(s)  on the  certificates  for such
Shares. Signature(s) on any such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed
by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1.

   If this Letter of Transmittal or any  certificate or stock power is signed by
a trustee, executor,  administrator,  guardian,  attorney-in-fact,  officer of a
corporation  or other person acting in a fiduciary or  representative  capacity,
such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to
the Company of the authority of such person so to act must be submitted.

   6. Stock Transfer  Taxes.  The Company will pay or cause to be paid any stock
transfer  taxes with respect to the sale and transfer of any Shares to it or its
order pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the Purchase Price is to be
made to, or Shares not tendered or not  purchased  are to be  registered  in the
name of, any person other than the registered  holder(s),  or if tendered Shares
are  registered in the name of any person other than the person(s)  signing this
Letter of Transmittal,  the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether  imposed
on the registered holder(s),  such other person or otherwise) payable on account
of the transfer to such person will be deducted  from the Purchase  Price unless
satisfactory  evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom,  is
submitted. See Section 8 of the Offer to Purchase.

   7. Special Payment and Delivery  Instructions.  If the check for the Purchase
Price of any Shares  purchased is to be issued in the name of, and/or any Shares
not  tendered or not  purchased  are to be returned  to, a person other than the
person(s)  signing  this  Letter  of  Transmittal  or if the  check  and/or  any
certificates  for  Shares  not  tendered  or not  purchased  are to be mailed to
someone other than the  person(s)  signing this Letter of  Transmittal  or to an
address other than that shown below the signature of the person(s)  signing this
Letter of Transmittal,  then the boxes captioned "Special Payment  Instructions"
and/or "Special Delivery  Instructions" on this Letter of Transmittal  should be
completed.  Stockholders  tendering Shares by book-entry  transfer will have any
Shares not accepted for payment returned by crediting the account  maintained by
such  stockholder at the Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility from which such transfer
was made.

   8. Substitute Form W-9 and Form W-8. The tendering stockholder is required to
provide the  Depositary  with either a correct  Taxpayer  Identification  Number
("TIN")  on  Substitute  Form  W-9,  which  is  provided  under  "Important  Tax
Information" below, or, in the case of certain foreign stockholders,  a properly
completed Form W-8. Failure to provide the information on either Substitute Form
W-9 or Form W-8 may subject the tendering  stockholder to 31% federal income tax
backup  withholding on the payment of the Purchase  Price.  The box in Part 2 of
Substitute  Form W-9 may be checked if the  tendering  stockholder  has not been
issued a TIN and has  applied  for a number or  intends to apply for a number in
the near future. If the box in Part 2 is checked and the Depositary is 


                                        9


not provided with a TIN by the time of payment, the Depositary will withhold 31%
on all payments of the Purchase Price  thereafter until a TIN is provided to the
Depositary.

   9. Requests for  Assistance or Additional  Copies.  Any questions or requests
for assistance may be directed to the Information  Agent at the telephone number
and  address  listed  below.  Requests  for  additional  copies  of the Offer to
Purchase,  this Letter of  Transmittal  or other tender offer  materials  may be
directed to the Information Agent and such copies will be furnished  promptly at
the  Company|Als  expense.  Stockholders  may also contact  their local  broker,
dealer, commercial bank or trust company for assistance concerning the Offer.

     10. Solicited Tenders. The Company will pay a solicitation fee of $0.50 per
Share for any Shares  tendered and accepted for payment and paid for pursuant to
the Offer,  covered by the Letter of Transmittal  which  designates,  in the box
captioned  "Solicited Tenders," as having solicited and obtained the tender, the
name of (i) any broker or dealer in securities,  including the Dealer Manager in
its capacity as a dealer or broker, which is a member of any national securities
exchange  or of the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  (the
"NASD"),  (ii) any foreign  broker or dealer not eligible for  membership in the
NASD which agrees to conform to the NASD's Rules of Fair  Practice in soliciting
tenders  outside the United  States to the same extent as though it were an NASD
member,  or (iii) any bank or trust company (each of which is referred to herein
as a "Soliciting  Dealer").  No such fee shall be payable to a Soliciting Dealer
with  respect  to the  tender  of  Shares  by a  holder  unless  the  Letter  of
Transmittal  accompanying such tender designates such Soliciting Dealer. No such
fee  shall be  payable  to a  Soliciting  Dealer  if such  Soliciting  Dealer is
required  for any  reason to  transfer  the  amount of such fee to a  depositing
holder (other than itself).  No such fee shall be payable to a Soliciting Dealer
with respect to Shares tendered for such Soliciting  Dealer|Als own account.  No
broker, dealer, bank, trust company or fiduciary shall be deemed to be the agent
of the Company, the Depositary,  the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager for
purposes of the Offer.

   11.  Irregularities.  All  questions  as to the Purchase  Price,  the form of
documents  and  the  validity,  eligibility  (including  time  of  receipt)  and
acceptance  of any tender of Shares will be  determined  by the Company,  in its
sole discretion,  and its determination shall be final and binding.  The Company
reserves  the  absolute  right to reject any or all  tenders  of Shares  that it
determines  are not in proper form or the  acceptance  for payment of or payment
for Shares that may, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, be unlawful. The
Company also reserves the absolute  right to waive any of the  conditions to the
Offer or any defect or  irregularity in any tender of Shares and the Company|Als
interpretation  of the  terms  and  conditions  of the  Offer  (including  these
instructions)  shall be  final  and  binding.  Unless  waived,  any  defects  or
irregularities  in connection with tenders must be cured within such time as the
Company  shall  determine.   None  of  the  Company,  the  Dealer  Manager,  the
Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person shall be under any duty to
give  notice of any defect or  irregularity  in  tenders,  nor shall any of them
incur any  liability  for failure to give any such  notice.  Tenders will not be
deemed to have been made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or
waived. 


                                       10



                          IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

     Under  federal  income tax law, a  stockholder  whose  tendered  Shares are
accepted  for  payment is required  to provide  the  Depositary  (as payer) with
either such  stockholder's  correct TIN on  Substitute  Form W-9 below or in the
case of certain  foreign  stockholders,  a properly  completed Form W-8. If such
stockholder is an individual,  the TIN is his or her social security number. For
businesses and otherentities,  the number is the employer identification number.
If the  Depositary  is not provided  with the correct TIN or properly  completed
Form W-8,  the  stockholder  may be  subject  to a $50  penalty  imposed  by the
Internal  Revenue  Service.  In  addition,   payments  that  are  made  to  such
stockholder  with  respect  to  Shares  purchased  pursuant  to the Offer may be
subject to backup withholding. The Form W-8 can be obtained from the Depositary.
See the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer  Identification Number
on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions.

   If federal income tax backup withholding  applies, the Depositary is required
to withhold 31% of any payments made to the stockholder.  Backup  withholding is
not an  additional  tax.  Rather,  the federal  income tax  liability of persons
subject to federal income tax backup  withholding  will be reduced by the amount
of the tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund
may be obtained. 


PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 AND FORM W-8

   To avoid backup  withholding on payments that are made to a stockholder  with
respect to Shares  purchased  pursuant to the Offer, the stockholder is required
to notify the  Depositary of his or her correct TIN by completing the Substitute
Form W-9 attached hereto certifying that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9
is correct and that (1) the  stockholder  has not been  notified by the Internal
Revenue  Service  that  he or  she is  subject  to  federal  income  tax  backup
withholding  as a result of failure to report all  interest or  dividends or (2)
the Internal  Revenue Service has notified the stockholder  that he or she is no
longer subject to federal income tax backup  withholding.  Foreign  stockholders
must  submit a  properly  completed  Form W-8 in order to avoid  the  applicable
backup withholding; provided, however, that backup withholding will not apply to
foreign  stockholders subject to 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding on gross
payments received pursuant to the Offer.


WHAT NUMBER TO GIVE THE DEPOSITARY

   The stockholder is required to give the Depositary the social security number
or employer  identification number of the registered owner of the Shares. If the
Shares  are in more  than one name or are not in the name of the  actual  owner,
consult the enclosed  Guidelines for  Certification  of Taxpayer  Identification
Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidance on which number to report.

   IMPORTANT:  This Letter of Transmittal (or a photocopy thereof) together with
certificates  or  confirmation  of  book-entry  transfer and all other  required
documents  must be  received  by the  Depositary,  or the  Notice of  Guaranteed
Delivery must be received by the Depositary,  on or prior to the Expiration Date
(as defined in the Offer to Purchase).



                                       11


          PAYER'S NAME: CHEMICAL MELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Payer's Request for Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN) and
Certification

________________________________________________________________________________

Part 1 -- PLEASE  PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING
AND DATING BELOW.
- - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME
                                 (Please Print)
- - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS
- - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITY                              STATE                              ZIP CODE
- - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________________________

                          TIN ________________________
                       Social Security Number or Employer
                              Identification Number
                                  
                                     Part 2
                                    AWAITING
                                     TIN [ ]

________________________________________________________________________________

Part  3--CERTIFICATION-UNDER  THE  PENALTIES OF PERJURY,  I CERTIFY THAT (1) the
number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or a TIN
has not been  issued to me but I have  mailed or  delivered  an  application  to
receive a TIN or intend to do so in the near  future),  (2) I am not  subject to
backup  withholding  either  because I have not been  notified  by the  Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup  withholding as a result
of a failure to report all interest or dividends or the IRS has notified me that
I am no longer  subject  to  backup  withholding  and (3) all other  information
provided on this form is true,  correct and  complete. 

SIGNATURE ______________________________________  DATE__________________________

You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that your
are currently subject to backup withholding  because of underreporting  interest
or dividends on your tax return.




NOTE:  FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING
       OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS  MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.  PLEASE REVIEW
       THE ENCLOSED  GUIDELINES  FOR  CERTIFICATION  OF TAXPAYER  IDENTIFICATION
       NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL  DETAILS.  YOU MUST COMPLETE
       THE  FOLLOWING  CERTIFICATE  IF YOU  CHECKED  THE  BOX  IN  PART 2 OF THE
       SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.




             CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER


   I certify under  penalties of perjury that a taxpayer  identification  number
has  not  been  issued  to me and  either  (1) I have  mailed  or  delivered  an
application  to  receive a  taxpayer  identification  number to the  appropriate
Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security  Administration Office or (2)
I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that
if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of payment, 31%
of all payments of the  Purchase  Price made to me  thereafter  will be withheld
until I provide a number.

Signature ________________________________________  Date: ________________, 1996


                                       12





                            The Information Agent:

                            D.F. KING & CO., INC.

                               77 Water Street
                              New York, NY 10005
                                (800) 714-3313




                             The Dealer Manager:

                            LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER
                                INCORPORATED

                       7 East Redwood Street, 6th Floor
                             Baltimore, MD 21202
                                (410) 528-2231