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                                                            PUBLIC NOTICE
                                                                         
                                        Federal Communications Commission
                                                       445 12th St., S.W.
                                                   Washington, D.C. 20554
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                           
                                                               DA 00-1038
                                                                May 10, 2000
                                                     
   Usource, Inc. Seeks Commission Determination of
 "Exempt Telecommunications Company" Status Under the 
         Public Utility Holding Company Act 
                                                     
                NSD File No: ETC 00-19
                           
              Pleading Cycle Established
                           
     Comments Due:  May 31, 2000                            Reply Comments  Due:  June 7, 2000

     On April 17, 2000, Usource, Inc. ("Usource" or "Applicant"), pursuant to Section 34(a)(1)
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 ("PUHCA"), as added by Section 103 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-104, filed an application requesting a
Commission determination that it is an exempt telecommunications company ("ETC").

     Usource is a Delaware corporation and is a wholly subsidiary of Unitil Resources, Inc., and
an indirect subsidiary of Unitil Corporation ("Unitil", a New Hampshire corporation and a public
utility holding company registered pursuant to PUHCA.  Usource is an associate company, within
the meaning of PUHCA, Section 2(a)(10), of the following public utility companies:  Concord
Electric Company; Exeter & Hampton Electric Company; Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light
Company; and Unitil Power Corp.

     Usource states it will be engaged (as defined in PUHCA Section 2(a)(11)(B)) directly or
indirectly through one or more "affiliates", exclusively in the business of providing
telecommunications services, information services, other services or products subject to the
jurisdiction of the Commission and/or products or services that are related or incidental to the
provision of such products or services within the meaning of PUHCA Section 34(a)(1).

     Usource states that it provides an Internet-based energy marketplace that allows energy
consumers access to a customer-driven auction process for energy commodities and to a suite of
value-added energy products, services, and tools.  Usource states it runs on the transactional-based
software and retail energy commodity Exchange developed and licensed by Enermetrix.com to assist
customers with their energy procurement process and to ensure highly competitive, time-sensitive
bids from energy suppliers.  Through the Usource homepage, energy consumers and energy
suppliers are able to conduct transactions involving energy commodities using the advantages of
transactional e-commerce. Usource states it will provide energy service providers with an Internet
based energy marketplace to offer energy consumers products and services and will also provide
data and information service to commercial and industrial customers desiring to control their energy
procurement process and manage their energy usage.

     In accordance with 47 C.F.R. Section 1.5004, if the Commission does not issue an order
denying an ETC application within 60 days of receipt of the applications, in this case, April 26,
2000, the application will be deemed granted as a matter of law.  In accordance with 47 C.F.R.
Section 1.5003, a person applying in good faith for a Commission determination of ETC status is
deemed to be an ETC from the date of receipt of the application, in this case, April 26, 2000, until
the date of Commission action pursuant to 47 C.F.R. Section 1.5004.  In accord with 47 C.F.R.
Section 1.5005, the Secretary of the Commission is now notifying the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) that the Applicant is deemed to be exempt telecommunications company.  In the
event that the Commission issues an order within 60 days of receipt of the application denying the
application, the Secretary will so notify the SEC.  Otherwise, the Commission will take no further
action to grant this application.  
          
     This proceeding is considered a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the
Commission's ex parte rules.  See generally 47 C.F.R. Sections 1.1200 - 1.1206.  Persons wishing
to file comments, regarding the adequacy or accuracy of the Applicant's application requesting
status as an ETC, must do so no later than May 31, 2000.  All comments should also be served on
the Applicant.  Reply comments must be filed no later than June 7, 2000.  

     Interested parties should file an original and four copies of their comments with the Office of
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth St., SW, Room TW-A325,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  In addition, parties should send one copy to ITS, at 1231 20th Street,
NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 and two copies to Al McCloud, Common Carrier Bureau, Network
Services Division, FCC, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 6-A320,  Washington, D.C. 20554.  All filings
concerning any of the matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to NSD File No. ETC
00-19.  The application will be available for public inspection Monday through Friday in the FCC
Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite CY-A257, Washington, D.C., 20554, (202)
418-0267.

  For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499 (voice), amccloud@fcc.gov or Marty
Schwimmer, (202) 418-2320 (voice), mschwimm@fcc.gov, of the Network Services Division, Common
Carrier Bureau.  The TTY number is (202) 418-0484.
   
              -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-