<PAGE> 1                                
December 2, 1996



Frank L. Childs
100 Tiffany Lane
Manchester, NH  03104



                Management Continuity Agreement

Dear Mr. Childs:

     The Board of Directors (the "Board") of EnergyNorth, Inc.

(the "Company") recognizes that, as is the case with many

publicly held corporations, there always exists the possibility

of a change of control of the Company.  This possibility and the

uncertainty it creates may result in the loss or distraction of

members of management of the Company and its subsidiaries to the

detriment of the Company and its shareholders.

     The Board considers the establishment, maintenance, and

continuity of a sound and vital management to be essential to

protecting and enhancing the best interests of the Company and

its shareholders.  The Board also believes that when a change of

control is perceived as imminent, or is occurring, the Board

should be able to receive and rely on disinterested advice from

management regarding the best interests of the Company and its

shareholders without concern that members of management might be

distracted or concerned by the personal uncertainties and risks

created by the perception of an imminent or occurring change of

control.

     Accordingly, the Board has determined that appropriate steps

should be taken to assure the Company of the continued employment

and attention and dedication to duty of certain members of

<PAGE> 2
management of the Company and to ensure the availability of their

disinterested advice, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or

occurrence of a change of control.

     Therefore, in order to fulfill the above purposes, the Board

has designated you as eligible for severance benefits as set

forth below.

1.   Offer:  In order to induce you to remain in the employ of

the Company and to provide continued services to the Company now

and in the event that a change of control is imminent or

occurring, this letter agreement (the "Agreement") sets forth

severance benefits which the Company offers to pay to you in the

event of a termination of your employment (as described in

Section 5 below, excluding a termination for Cause, disability,

death or retirement) subsequent to a Change of Control of the

Company (as defined in Section 4 below).

2.   Operation:  This Agreement shall be effective immediately

upon its execution but, anything in this Agreement to the

contrary notwithstanding, neither this Agreement nor any of its

provisions shall be operative unless and until there has been a

Change of Control while you are still an employee of the Company,

nor shall this Agreement govern or affect your employment

relationship with the Company except as explicitly set forth

herein.  Upon a Change of Control, if you are still employed by

the Company, this Agreement and all of its provisions shall

become operative immediately.  If your employment relationship

<PAGE> 3
with the Company is terminated before a Change of Control, you

shall have no rights or obligations under this Agreement.

3.   Term:

     a)   Term of Agreement.  The term of this Agreement shall

commence immediately upon the date hereof and continue for a

period of at least twenty-four full calendar months thereafter.

     b)   One-Year Evergreen Provision.  This Agreement shall be

reviewed annually by the Board at its meeting held for the review

of compensation and in all events prior to December 1 of each

year.  At such yearly review, the Board shall consider whether or

not to extend the term of this Agreement for an additional year.

Unless the Board affirmatively votes not to extend this

Agreement, the term of this Agreement shall be extended for a

period of one year from the previous termination date.  In the

event the Board votes not to extend this Agreement, the

termination date of this Agreement shall be the later of twenty-

four months from the effective date of this Agreement or twenty-

four months from December 1st of the year in which this Agreement

was last extended.

4.   Change in Control:  For the purpose of this Agreement, a

"Change of Control" shall mean:

     (1)  The acquisition by any individual, entity or group

[within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")]

(a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule

<PAGE> 4
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of

either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the

Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the

combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities

of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of

directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");

provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not

constitute a Change of Control:  (i) any acquisition directly

from the Company (excluding an acquisition by virtue of the

exercise of a conversion privilege), (ii) any acquisition by the

Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or

related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any

corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition by

any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or

consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or

consolidation, the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and

(iii) of Subparagraph (3) of this Subsection (b) are satisfied;

or

     (2)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the

Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute

at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any

individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof

whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's

shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of

the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be

considered as though such individual were a member of the

Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such

individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result

<PAGE> 5
of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms

are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the

Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of

proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the

Board; or

     (3)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a

reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless,

following such reorganization, merger or consolidation,     (i)

more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of

common stock of the corporation resulting from such

reorganization, merger or consolidation and the combined voting

power of the then outstanding voting securities of such

corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of

directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by

all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were

the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company

Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities

immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation

in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,

immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or

consolidation, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and

Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii)

no Person (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or

related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from

such reorganization, merger or consolidation and any Person

beneficially owning, immediately prior to such reorganization,

merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of

<PAGE> 6
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company

Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns,

directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then

outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting

from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined

voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such

corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of

directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the

board of directors of the corporation resulting from such

reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the

Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial

agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or

consolidation; or

     (4)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a

complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the

sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the

assets of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect

to which following such sale or other disposition, (A) more than

60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock

of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then

outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to

vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially

owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the

individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,

respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and

Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such

sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as

their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other

<PAGE> 7
disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and

Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no

Person (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or

related trust) of the Company or such corporation and any Person

beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale or other

disposition, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the

Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting

Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or

indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding

shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined

voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such

corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of

directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board

of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent

Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or

action of the Board providing for such sale or other disposition

of assets of the Company.

5.   Severance Benefit:

     a.   Severance Benefits.  If, within two years after a

Change of Control (as defined above) of the Company, you are

discharged without Cause or resign for Good Reason (as defined

below), the Company shall pay to you within ten business days

following the Date of Termination (as defined below) a lump sum

severance benefit equal to 2.95 multiplied by your annual salary,

including deferrals, as in effect on the Date of Termination,

plus the average of the previous three years' annual incentive

compensation award earned under the EnergyNorth, Inc. Key

Employee Performance and Equity Incentive Plan, plus interest on

<PAGE> 8
any delayed payment at the rate of 150% of the Prime Rate as

posted by the Bank of Boston.

     b.   Good Reason.  If any of the following events occurs

within two years after a Change of Control, you may voluntarily

terminate your employment within 30 days of the occurrence of

such event and be entitled to the severance benefits set forth in

Subsection (a) above:

          (1)  the Company assigns any duties to you which are

inconsistent with your position, duties, offices, titles,

responsibilities, reporting requirements or status with the

Company immediately prior to a Change of Control; or

          (2)  the Company reduces your base salary, including

deferrals, as in effect immediately prior to a Change of Control;

or

          (3)  the Company discontinues any bonus or other

compensation plans or any other benefit, stock ownership plan,

stock purchase plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan,

health plan, disability plan or similar plan (as the same existed

immediately prior to the Change of Control) in which you

participated or were eligible to participate in immediately prior

to the Change of Control and in lieu thereof does not make

available plans providing at least comparable benefits; or

          (4)  the Company takes action which adversely affects

your participation in, or eligibility for, or materially reduces

your benefits under, any of the plans described in (3) above, or

which deprives you of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by you

<PAGE> 9
immediately prior to the Change of Control, or fails to provide

you with the number of paid vacation days to which you were

entitled in accordance with normal vacation policy immediately

prior to the Change of Control; or

          (5)  the Company requires you to be based at any office

or location other than one within a 50-mile radius of the

boundaries of EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc.'s Franchise territory

as such boundaries existed immediately prior to the Change in

Control; or

          (6)  the Company purports to terminate your employment

otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

          (7)  the Company fails to comply with and satisfy

Section 7, provided that such successor has received at least ten

days prior written notice from the Company or from you of the

requirements of Section 7.

     You shall have the sole right to determine, in good faith,

whether any of the above events has occurred.  Anything in this

Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, a termination of

employment by you for any reason during the 30-day period

immediately following the first anniversary of a Change of

Control ("Window Period") shall be deemed to be a termination for

Good Reason for all purposes of this Agreement.

     c)   Cause.  Cause shall mean:  conviction of a felony or

crime involving an act of moral turpitude, dishonesty, or

misfeasance which substantially interferes with the orderly

business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, action that

<PAGE> 10
directly or indirectly causes the Company or its subsidiaries to

suffer substantial loss or damage, refusal to follow or material

neglect of reasonable requests of the Company made pursuant to

this Agreement, and conduct that substantially interferes with or

damages the standing or reputation of the Company or any of its

subsidiaries.

     d)   Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Company

for Cause, or by you for Good Reason, shall be communicated by

Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in

accordance with Section 9.  For purposes of this Agreement, a

"Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)

indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement

relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in

reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide

a basis for termination of your employment under the provision so

indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below)

is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the

termination date (which date shall be not more than 15 days after

the giving of such notice).

     e)   Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination" means (A)

if your employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by

you for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of

Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may

be, (B) if your employment is terminated by the Company other

than for Cause or disability, the Date of Termination shall be

the date on which the Company notifies you of such termination

and (C) if your employment is terminated by reason of death or

disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of your

death or the date you are determined to have a disability under

<PAGE> 11
any long-term disability policy of the Company which covers you,

or, if none, as defined in the EnergyNorth, Inc. Retirement Plan

for Salaried Employees, as the case may be.

     (f)  Other Benefits Payable.  The severance benefit

described in Subsection (a) above shall be payable in addition

to, and not in lieu of, all other accrued or vested or earned by

deferred compensation, rights, options or other benefits which

may be owed to you following discharge or resignation (and not

contingent on any Change of Control preceding such termination),

including but not limited to accrued vacation or sick pay,

amounts or benefits payable, if any, under any bonus or other

compensation plans, stock option plan, stock ownership plan,

stock purchase plan, life insurance plan, health plan, disability

plan or similar plan.

     g)   Payment Obligations Absolute.  Upon a Change of Control

the Company's obligations to pay the severance benefits or make

any other payments described in this Section 5 shall be absolute

and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances,

including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim,

recoupment, defense or other right which the Company or any of

its subsidiaries may have against you or anyone else.  You shall

not be required to mitigate damages, and if you do accept other

employment, any benefits or payments hereunder shall not be

reduced by any compensation earned or other benefits received as

a result of such employment.

<PAGE> 12
     h)   Legal Fees and Expenses.  Subject to and contingent

upon the occurrence of a Change of Control the Company agrees to

pay promptly as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law,

all legal fees and expenses which you may reasonably thereafter

incur as a result of any contest, litigation or arbitration

(regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, you or others

of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any

provision of this Agreement (including any contest by you about

the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in

each case interest on any delayed payment at the rate of 150%. of

the Prime Rate posted by the Bank of Boston.

     i)   Retirement.  If your employment is terminated due to

retirement, you shall not be entitled to severance benefits under

this Agreement, regardless of the occurrence of a Change of

Control.  A termination by retirement shall have occurred where

your termination is caused by the fact that you have reached

normal retirement age for employees in your position.

     (j)  Ceiling on Severance Benefits.  In order to comply with

certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

amended (the "Code") severance benefits payable under this

Agreement shall be subject to the following ceiling

notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:  The

"aggregate present value" of severance benefits payable under

this Agreement and of payments to you or for your benefit which

would be "parachute payments" if their "aggregate present value"

<PAGE> 13
equalled or exceeded 300% of your "base amount" shall in no event

exceed 295% of your "base amount" (within those terms' meaning

under Section 280G of the Code).

     It is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that no

severance benefits hereunder will be paid to the extent that such

benefits (either alone or when aggregated with other benefits

paid to you or for your benefit) constitute "excess parachute

payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code as

amended from time to time.

6.   Assignability.  This Agreement is binding on and is for the

benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors,

heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives.

Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder may

be assigned by the Company (except to any subsidiary or

affiliate) or by you.

7.   Successor.  The Company shall require any successor (whether

direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or

otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or

assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform

this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the

Company would be required to perform.  As used in this Agreement,

"Company" shall mean the company as hereinbefore defined and any

successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which

assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law,

or otherwise.

8.   Amendment: Waiver.  This Agreement may be amended only by an

instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, and any

provision hereof may be waived only by an instrument in writing

<PAGE> 14
signed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement

of such waiver is sought.  The failure of either party hereto at

any time to require the performance by the other party hereto of

any provision hereof shall in no way affect the full right to

require such performance at any time thereafter, nor shall the

waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any provision hereof

be taken or held to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such

provision or a waiver of the provision itself or a waiver of any

other provision of this Agreement.

9.   Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder

shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the

other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt

requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

     If to you:

     Frank L. Childs
     100 Tiffany Lane
     Manchester, NH  03104

     If to the Company:

     Vice President of Human Resources
     EnergyNorth, Inc.
     1260 Elm Street
     P.O. Box 329
     Manchester, NH  03105-0329

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to

the other in writing in accordance herewith.  Notice and

communications shall be effective when actually received by the

addressee.

<PAGE> 15
10.  Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any

provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the

validity or enforceability of any other provision of this

Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect, nor shall

the invalidity or unenforceability of a portion of any provision

of this Agreement affect the validity or enforceability of the

balance of such provision.  If any provision of this Agreement,

or portion thereof is so broad, in scope or duration, as to be

unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be

interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

11.  Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy between the parties

relating to this Agreement shall be settled by binding

arbitration in the City of Manchester, State of New Hampshire,

pursuant to the governing rules of the American Arbitration

Association and shall be subject to the provisions of New

Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Chapter 542.  Judgment upon

the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

12.  Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amounts

payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes

as shall be permitted to be withheld pursuant to any applicable

law or regulation.  The Company may withhold such other amounts

as may be permitted by law.

13.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire

understanding of the Company and you with respect to the subject

matter hereof.

<PAGE> 16
14.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and

construed in accordance with the substantive internal law and not

the conflict of law provisions of the State of New Hampshire.

     If the terms of the foregoing Agreement are acceptable to

you, please sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of

this Agreement whereupon this Agreement shall become a valid and

legally binding contract between you and the Company.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        EnergyNorth, Inc.

                                        By:/s/ Robert R. Giordano
                                           Robert R. Giordano,
                                           President and Chief
                                           Executive Officer

                                        Accepted and Agreed as of
                                        the date first above
                                        written:

                                           /s/ Frank L. Childs
                                           FRANK L. CHILDS