<PAGE>
                                                              
                                                  Exhibit 4.16


                        YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY
                           599 Research Parkway
                      Meriden, Connecticut 06450-1030

                       -----------------------------

                          BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                      ------------------------------



                                                                 

        
                                                             
April 1, 1997


         Re:  $30,000,000 aggregate principal amount of First
              Mortgage Bonds, 7.19% Series E, Due 2012         
              -----------------------------------------------


To the Purchaser named in Schedule I
  hereto and which is a signatory
  of this Agreement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    The undersigned, YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY, a specially
chartered Connecticut corporation (the "Company"), hereby agrees
with you as follows:

SECTION 1.  ISSUANCE OF BONDS.

    Section 1.1.  Issue of Bonds and Security.  The Company has
duly authorized the issuance and delivery of $30,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount of its First Mortgage Bonds, 7.19%
Series E, Due 2012 (collectively, the "Bonds"), to be issued
under and secured by that certain Indenture of Mortgage and Deed
of Trust dated as of July 1, 1989 (the "Original Indenture") by
and between the Company and Fleet National Bank (formerly known
as The Connecticut National Bank), as Trustee (the "Trustee"), as
supplemented and amended and as to be supplemented and amended by
a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 1997 (the
"Supplemental Indenture") which will be substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A, but with such changes therein, if
any, as may be agreed upon by you and the Company, and will be
entitled to the benefits thereof.  The Original Indenture, as
heretofore supplemented and amended including, without
limitation, by the Supplemental Indenture, is hereinafter
referred to as the "Indenture."  The terms of the Bonds shall be
substantially as set forth in Exhibit A to the Supplemental
Indenture and will be dated the date of issuance thereof; will be
in the amount of $250,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is
an integral multiple of $5,000; will bear interest on the unpaid
principal balance thereof from the date of the Bonds at the rate
of 7.19% per annum, payable semiannually on the first day of each
April 1 and October 1 in each year, commencing on October 1,
1997, until the principal amount thereof becomes due and payable;
and will bear interest on overdue principal (including any
optional prepayment of principal) and premium, if any, and (to
the extent legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of
interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (a) the highest rate
allowed by applicable law or (b) the higher of (i) the Prime Rate
or (ii) 8.19% per annum after the due date, whether by
acceleration or otherwise, until paid; and will be expressed to
mature on April 1, 2012.  Interest on the Bonds shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The
Bonds are not subject to prepayment or redemption prior to their
expressed maturity date except on the terms and conditions and in
the amounts and with the premium, if any, set forth in Section
2.02 of the Supplemental Indenture (Sinking Fund Installments and
Mandatory Redemptions) and in Section 2.03 of the Supplemental
Indenture (Optional Redemption).

    The Indenture creates and will create a first mortgage Lien
on and a first security interest in the Property of the Company
described therein as being subjected to the Lien thereof
(excluding Excepted Property and subject to Permitted
Encumbrances as therein defined), except such Property as may
have been released from the Lien thereof in accordance with the
terms thereof (such Property not so released being hereinafter
defined as the "Trust Estate").

    The terms used in this Agreement and not defined at the
point at which they are first used are defined in Section 8.1
(Definitions) hereof.

    Section 1.2.  Sale of Bonds.  The Company agrees to sell to
you, and, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
you agree to purchase from the Company, Bonds in the principal
amount set forth opposite your name on Schedule I hereto on the
Closing Date (as defined below) at a purchase price equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof.  The Bonds will be sold and
delivered at one closing to be held at the principal offices of
Shipman & Goodwin LLP, One American Row, Hartford, Connecticut
06103-2819, at 10:00 a.m. Hartford, Connecticut time, on April 1,
1997, or such other date as shall be mutually agreed upon between
you and the Company (the date and time for such closing being
hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date").  On the Closing
Date, the Company will deliver to you one duly authenticated Bond
(or such other number of Bonds in such denominations of not less
than $250,000 as you may designate by notice prior to the Closing
Date), dated the Closing Date, in the full principal amount of
your purchase and registered in your name (or in such nominee
name as you shall designate to the Company prior to the Closing
Date), against payment to the Company by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the Company in the amount of the
purchase price referred to above pursuant to wire transfer
instructions set forth in Schedule V attached hereto.

    Section 1.3.  Purchase for Investment.  You represent and
warrant to the Company that (a) you are an Accredited Investor
and (b) you are purchasing your Bonds for your own account for
investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof, and
that you have no present intention of distributing your Bonds or
any part thereof; provided, however, that the disposition of your
Property shall at all times be within your control and that your
right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any
part of your Bonds pursuant to applicable state securities laws
and to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act or in accordance with an exemption from such registration
available under the Securities Act shall not be prejudiced.  You
covenant and agree that you will only sell or otherwise dispose
of all or any part of your Bonds in compliance with applicable
Federal and state securities laws and Section 1.4 (Restrictions
on Transfer; Legend) of this Agreement.  Your acquisition of your
Bonds hereunder shall constitute a reaffirmation by you, as of
the Closing Date, of your representations set forth in this
Section 1.3.

    Section 1.4.   Restrictions on Transfer; Legend. The Bonds
are subject to restrictions on transfer as described in the
private placement memorandum prepared by the Company and dated
January 1997, (including the Exhibits thereto and the documents
incorporated by reference therein, the "Private Placement
Memorandum") and the legend to be endorsed on each certificate
for the Bonds. You covenant and agree when effecting resales of
the Bonds pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act to make
offers and sales only to persons whom you reasonably believe to
be Qualified Institutional Buyers. The legend on the Bonds will
be substantially in the following form:

    THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
    SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT").
    THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES
    FOR THE BENEFIT OF YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY (THE
    "COMPANY") AND PRIOR HOLDERS THAT THIS SECURITY MAY BE
    OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY
    (1) TO THE COMPANY (UPON REDEMPTION THEREOF OR
    OTHERWISE), (2) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE
    FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON WHO THE
    SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
    BUYER, WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE 1933
    ACT, IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
    144A, (3) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
    REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT, (4) PURSUANT TO AN
    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE
    144A (IF AVAILABLE) UNDER THE 1933 ACT, (5) IN RELIANCE
    ON ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
    OF THE 1933 ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY
    OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH
    TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
    OF THE 1933 ACT OR (6) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
    REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE 1933 ACT, SUBJECT (IN
    THE CASE OF CLAUSES (2), (3), (4) AND (5)) TO THE
    RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF A CERTIFICATION OF THE
    TRANSFEROR (WHICH, IN THE CASE OF CLAUSE (4), MAY BE A
    COPY OF FORM 144 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE COMMISSION) TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER
    IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 1933 ACT, AND IN EACH CASE IN
    ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
    JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THE HOLDER OF THIS
    SECURITY WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED
    TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF
    THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO HEREIN.

    Section 1.5.  Source of Funds; ERISA.  You further represent
and warrant that either:  (a) no part of the funds to be used by
you to purchase the Bonds constitutes assets allocated to any
separate account maintained by you; or (b) no part of the funds
to be used by you to purchase the Bonds constitutes assets
allocated to any separate account maintained by you such that the
application of such funds constitutes a prohibited transaction
under Section 406 of ERISA; or (c) all or part of such funds
constitute assets of one or more separate accounts maintained by
you, and you have disclosed to the Company the names of such
employee benefit plans, whose assets in such separate account or
accounts exceed 10% of the total assets or are expected to exceed
10% of the total assets of such account or accounts as of the
date of such purchase, and the Company has advised you in writing
(and in making the representations set forth in this clause (c)
you are relying on such advice) that the Company is not a party-
in-interest nor are the Bonds employer securities with respect to
the particular employee benefit plans disclosed to the Company by
you as aforesaid (for the purpose of this clause (c), all
employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer or
employee organization are deemed to be a single plan).  As used
in this Section 1.5, the terms "separate account," "party-in-
interest," "employer securities" and "employee benefit plan"
shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in ERISA. 
If, as contemplated in the foregoing clause (c), you are
purchasing Bonds for one or more separate accounts maintained by
you, and if it is intended that any of such accounts shall be
deemed to be a separate holder of the Bonds allocated to such
account, you have identified each such account in Schedule I and
the principal amount of Bonds allocated to each such account, and
the Company acknowledges and agrees that for all purposes of this
Agreement, each such account shall be deemed to be a separate
holder of the Bonds allocated to such account as aforesaid.


SECTION 2.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

    To induce you to enter into this Agreement and to purchase
the Bonds listed on Schedule I to this Agreement opposite your
name, the Company warrants, represents and undertakes as follows:

    Section 2.1.  Subsidiaries.  The Company has no
Subsidiaries.  Each of the Company's corporate or joint venture
Affiliates and the nature of the affiliation are disclosed in the
Private Placement Memorandum.

    Section 2.2.  Corporate Organization and Authority.  The
Company:

    (a)  is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Connecticut;

    (b)  has all requisite power and authority (corporate and
other) and all necessary licenses, permits and rights to own and
operate its Properties and to carry on its business substantially
as now conducted (except where the absence of any such license,
permit, or right would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
prospects, Properties or condition (financial or otherwise)); and

    (c)  has no Properties and carries on no activities in any
jurisdiction which would require qualification, licensing or
authorization to do business as a foreign corporation in such
jurisdiction.

    Section 2.3.  Business, Property and Indebtedness.

    (a)  Nature of Business; Properties.  The Private Placement
Memorandum which previously has been delivered to you, correctly
describes the general nature of the business and principal
Properties of the Company.

    (b)  Indebtedness.  Schedule II to this Agreement correctly
lists all outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money (including,
without limitation, purchase money obligations, capital leases
and contingent liabilities under guarantees) of the Company as of
December 31, 1996 (provided that short-term Indebtedness may be
expressed as an aggregate amount).

    (c)  Real Property.  The Company does not own or lease real
Property or operate a sales or business office (or both) or have
any employees located in any jurisdiction other than the State of
Connecticut.

    Section 2.4.  Financial Statements; Material Adverse Change.

    (a)  Financial Statements.  The financial statements of the
Parent and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996, contained
in the Private Placement Memorandum and the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its subsidiaries as
of December 31, 1996, and the related consolidated statements of
income and cash flows for the three (3) months ended on such date
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, and present fairly
the financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of
such dates and the results of their operations for such periods.

    (b)  Material Adverse Change.  Since September 30, 1996,
there has been no change in the business, prospects, Properties
or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company, except
changes in the ordinary course of business, none of which, either
individually or in the aggregate, has been materially adverse.

    Section 2.5.  Full Disclosure.  The financial statements
referred to in Section 2.4 (Financial Statements; Material
Adverse Change), as of their respective dates and for the periods
presented, and the Private Placement Memorandum, as of the date
hereof, do not, nor does this Agreement or any written statement
furnished by or on behalf of the Company to you in connection
with the negotiation of the sale of the Bonds, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to
make the statements contained therein or herein not misleading. 
There is no fact which the Company has not disclosed to you in
writing which materially affects adversely nor, so far as the
Company can now reasonably foresee, shall materially affect
adversely the business, prospects, Properties or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Company or the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations set forth in this Agreement,
the Indenture or the Bonds.

    Section 2.6.  Pending Litigation.  There is no action at
law, suit in equity or other proceeding or investigation (whether
or not purportedly on behalf of the Company) in any court or by
or before any other governmental or public authority or agency or
any arbitrator, or, to the best knowledge of the Company,
threatened against, the Company or any of its Properties
(including, without limitation, any such action, suit, proceeding
or investigation relating to any action or omission of the
Company) which, if determined adversely to the Company, involves
the reasonable possibility of materially and adversely affecting
the business, prospects, Properties or condition (financial or
other) of the Company, or the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Bonds.

To the best of its knowledge after due inquiry, the Company is
not in default in any material respect with respect to any
judgment, order, writ, injunction, rule or regulation or decree
or demand of any court or other governmental or public authority
or agency, or with respect to the award of any arbitrator.

    Section 2.7.  Title to Properties; Power of Eminent Domain.

    (a)  Title to Properties.  The Trust Estate constitutes
substantially all the Property of the Company, other than the
Excepted Property (as defined in the Indenture).  The Company has
such title (or may obtain such title by the exercise of its power
to condemn property) to its Property as is necessary to engage in
its business, and substantially all such Property is in good
repair, is properly maintained and is suitable for the use for
which it is intended.  All real Property which constitutes Trust
Estate is located in the State of Connecticut.  There is no
outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or of any other Person
for the purchase price or construction of, or for services,
materials and supplies rendered or delivered in connection with
the construction of, any Property, or for current operations,
which has or could become the basis of a Lien prior to the Lien
of the Indenture upon any portion or all of the Trust Estate,
other than a Permitted Encumbrance.

    (b)  Power of Eminent Domain.  The Company has the power of
eminent domain which it may exercise, subject to the requirements
of law, in order to acquire any additional Property that is
necessary for it to perform its responsibilities as a public
service company.

    Section 2.8.  Leases.  The Company has the right to, and
does, enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all
material leases to which it is a party or under which it is
operating.  All such leases are valid, subsisting and in full
force and effect, and the Company is not in default under any
such lease, and no event has occurred and is continuing, and no
condition exists, that, after notice or the passage of time or
both, could become a material default under any such lease.  All
material leases to which the Company is a party or under which
the Company is operating are situated on real Property located in
the State of Connecticut.

    Section 2.9.  Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Etc.  The
Company holds all material franchises, patents, trademarks,
service marks, trade names, copyrights, certificates, permits,
licenses, rights-of-way, easements, consents and other rights,
and holds, or holds in effect by acquiescence and is in
compliance in all material respects with the terms of, all
material franchises, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade
names, and copyrights for its business and operations as
currently conducted and (except for such franchises, patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, certificates,
permits, licenses, rights-of-way, easements, consents and other
rights as may be required to be obtained in the future) as
currently proposed to be conducted, without, after due inquiry,
any known conflicts with the rights of others, which either
individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect or materially interfere with the
operations of the Company's business.

    Section 2.10.  Sale is Legal and Authorized; Bonds are
Enforceable.

    (a)  Sale is Legal and Authorized.  Each of the sale of the
Bonds by the Company and compliance by the Company with all of
the provisions of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Bonds;

         (i)  is within the corporate powers of the Company; and

        (ii)  is legal and does not conflict with, result in any
    breach of any of the provisions of, constitute a default
    under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than the
    Lien created by the Indenture) upon any Property of the
    Company under the provisions of any agreement, charter
    instrument, bylaw or other instrument to which it is a party
    or by which it or any of its Property may be bound.

    (b)  Bonds are Enforceable.  The obligations of the Company
under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Bonds have been duly
authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Company
(no action by the shareholders of the Company being required by
law, any charter instrument or bylaws of the Company or
otherwise), and this Agreement, the Indenture and the Bonds have
been executed and delivered by the Company and are valid, binding
and enforceable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
the Indenture and the Bonds, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the
enforcement of the rights of creditors or by equitable
principles, regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity
or at law.

    Section 2.11.  No Defaults.  No event has occurred and no
condition exists which, upon the issue of the Bonds, would
constitute a Default or an Event of Default.  The Company is not
in violation in any respect of any term of any charter instrument
or bylaw and is, to the best of its knowledge after due inquiry,
not in violation in any material respect of any term in any
agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by which
it or any of its Property may be bound.

    Section 2.12.  Regulation; Status under Holding Company Act;
Investment Company Act; and Foreign or Enemy Status.  (a)  The
Company is subject to the jurisdiction of the DPUC and various
other state, Federal and local governmental departments and
regulatory and environmental commissions, agencies, authorities
and bodies with respect to its business operations.  Neither the
Company nor the Parent is directly subject to the jurisdiction of
the FERC.  The nature and extent of such regulation are generally
described in the Private Placement Memorandum.

    (b)  The Company is exempt from the requirements of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (except Section
9(a)(2) thereof) pursuant to Section 3(a)(1) thereof.  The Parent
has filed all necessary exemption statements with the SEC as of
the date of this Agreement.

    (c)  The Company is not, and is not directly or indirectly
controlled by, or acting on behalf of any Person which is, an
"investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act of 1940.

    Section 2.13.  Regulatory Approval Required.  Assuming the
Bonds are offered and sold as described in the Private Placement
Memorandum and that the representations set forth in Section 1.3
(Purchase for Investment) of this Agreement are correct, no
consent of, approval or authorization by, filing or registration
with, or notice to any governmental or public authority or agency
is required for the issuance, sale or delivery of the Bonds or
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
Indenture by the Company, other than (a) the authorization of the
DPUC, which authorization has been duly obtained, is in full
force and effect, and has not been appealed, abrogated, modified,
stayed or suspended and no subsequent appeal would, under
applicable law, affect the validity or enforceability of the
Bonds and (b) the recordings or filings, in respect of the Lien
of the Indenture, required under the Indenture.  The Company has
furnished to your special counsel true, correct and complete
copies of (i) said authorization and (ii) as requested by you,
all applications, petitions, reports and other papers, and any
amendments and supplements thereto (hereinafter in this Section
2.13 referred to collectively as "applications"), heretofore
filed with or submitted to the DPUC by the Company in connection
with its action to obtain said authorization.  The applications
did not contain, as of the respective dates of filing or
submission thereof, any untrue or incorrect statements of
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements contained therein not misleading.  Prior to
the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to your special
counsel all subsequent applications, if any.

    Section 2.14.  Consents.  Neither the creation,
authorization, issuance or sale of the Bonds, nor the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Supplemental
Indenture, will require any vote, consent or approval in any
manner of any creditor of, or investor in, the Company.

    Section 2.15.  Taxes.  All Federal, state and other tax
returns of the Company required by law to be filed have been duly
filed and all Federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees
and other governmental charges upon the Company or upon any of
its respective Properties or assets that are due and payable have
been paid, other than those not yet delinquent and except for
those being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. 
There are no material Liens on any Properties or assets of the
Company imposed or arising as a result of the delinquent payment
or nonpayment of any such tax, assessment, fee or other
governmental charge.  The charges, accruals and reserves on the
books of the Company in respect of Federal and state income taxes
for all fiscal years since December 31, 1989, and in respect of
other taxes for all outstanding periods, are adequate and the
Company does not know of any additional assessments for such
years or any basis therefor.  There are no applicable taxes, fees
or other governmental charges payable by the Company in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the offer, issuance, sale or delivery of the Bonds by the
Company.


    Section 2.16.  Use of Proceeds; No Margin Regulation
Violation.

    (a)  Use of Proceeds.  The net proceeds from the sale of the
Bonds will be applied to and used to provide for the scheduled
retirement of $30,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the First
Mortgage Bonds, Series A of the Company.

    (b)  No Margin Regulation Violation.  The Company does not
own, directly or indirectly, and does not have the present
intention of acquiring or owning, any "margin stock" (as such
term is defined in Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R., Part 207, as amended)).  The
Company will not use any part of the proceeds from the sale of
the Bonds, directly or indirectly, to "purchase or carry" (within
the meaning of said Regulation G) any "security" (as defined in
Section 3(10) of the Exchange Act) or to reduce or retire any
indebtedness originally incurred to "purchase or carry" any such
"security."  None of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the direct or indirect
use of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds) will violate or
result in a violation of Section 7 of the Exchange Act or any
regulations issued pursuant thereto, including, without
limitation, said Regulation G, Regulation T (12 C.F.R., Part 220,
as amended) and Regulation X (12 C.F.R., Part 224, as amended) of
said Board of Governors.

    Section 2.17.  Private Offering.  Neither the Company nor
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the only
Person authorized or employed by the Company as agent, broker,
dealer or otherwise in connection with the offering or sale of
the Bonds or any similar Security of the Company) has offered any
of the Bonds or any similar Security of the Company for sale to,
or solicited offers to buy any thereof from, or otherwise
approached or negotiated with respect thereto with, any
prospective purchaser, other than you and 116 other institutional
investors, each of whom was offered all or a portion of the Bonds
at private sale for investment.

    Section 2.18.  Compliance with Law.  The Company:

    (a)  is not, to the best of its knowledge after due inquiry,
in violation of any laws, ordinances or governmental rules or
regulations to which it is subject, the violation of which,
either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to materially and adversely affect the business,
prospects, Properties or condition (financial or other) of the
Company, or

    (b)  has not failed to obtain any licenses, permits,
franchises or other governmental authorizations necessary to the
ownership of its Property or to the conduct of its business,
which violation or failure could, either individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely
affect the business, prospects, Properties or condition
(financial or other) of the Company.

Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement
or the Supplemental Indenture, nor the performance of the
Indenture, nor the offer, issuance, sale or delivery of the
Bonds, will cause the Company to be in violation of any law or
any order, rule or regulation of any Federal, state, county,
municipal or other governmental or public authority or agency
having jurisdiction over the Company or over its Properties, or
the award of any arbitrator.

    Section 2.19.  ERISA.  (a)  The Company has not, with
respect to any of the "employee benefit plans" established or
maintained, or to which contributions have been made, by the
Company (the "Plans"), engaged in a "prohibited transaction"
which could subject the Company to a tax or penalty on prohibited
transactions.  No Plan which is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B
of Title I of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code had an
"accumulated funding deficiency," whether or not waived, as of
the last day of the most recent fiscal year of such Plan ended
prior to the date hereof.  No liability to the PBGC has been or
is expected by the Company to be incurred by the Company with
respect to any Plan.  There has been no "reportable event" with
respect to any Plan (including any Plan termination) since the
effective date of Section 4043 of ERISA for which a timely notice
to the PBGC, not otherwise waived by the PBGC, was not furnished,
and since such date no event or condition has occurred which
presents a material risk of termination of any Plan by the PBGC. 
As of January 1, 1996, the most recent valuation date, the
actuarially determined present value of all "accrued benefits"
under each Plan that is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title
I of ERISA did not exceed the then current value of the assets of
the respective Plan allocable to such benefits.  Insofar as the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in the
preceding sentences of this subsection (a) relate to any Plan
that is a "multi-employer plan," such representations and
warranties are made to the best knowledge of the Company after
due inquiry.

    (b)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Supplemental Indenture, and the issuance and sale by the Company,
and the purchase by you hereunder, of the Bonds, will not involve
any prohibited transaction.  This representation and warranty is
made in reliance on your representations in Section 1.5 (Source
of Funds; ERISA) hereof as to the source of the funds for your
purchase of the Bonds.  The Private Placement Memorandum
discloses all employee benefit plans with respect to which the
Company is a "party in interest" or with respect to which any of
the securities of the Company are "employer securities."  If, at
any time before the Closing Date, the Company becomes a party in
interest with respect to any other employee benefit plan or if
its securities become employer securities with respect to any
such employee benefit plan, then the Company will notify you in
writing of any such employee benefit plan within 15 days after it
becomes a party in interest or its securities become employer
securities with respect to any such employee benefit plan (but in
any event not later than the Closing Date).

    (c)  As used in this Section 2.19, the terms "accrued
benefits," "employee benefit plans," and "party in interest"
shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in
Section 3 of ERISA; the term "accumulated funding deficiency"
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the Code; the term "employer security"
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 407(d)(1) of
ERISA; the term "multi-employer plan" shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 4001 of ERISA; the term
"prohibited transaction" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA; and
the term "reportable event" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 4043 of ERISA.

    Section 2.20.  MGP Sites.  The Company has conducted a
thorough investigation of all MGP Sites currently owned by it for
which it could accrue liabilities or have responsibilities
pursuant to Environmental Laws.  The scope of its investigation
included all real Properties (i) for which the Company, to its
knowledge as of the date hereof, has responsibilities pursuant to
the Environmental Liability Sharing and Indemnity Agreement,
dated July 1, 1989, between the Company and Connecticut Light &
Power Company, and (ii) set forth in Schedule III (hereafter, the
"Disclosed MGP Sites").  As of the date hereof, the Company knows
of no MGP Sites other than the Disclosed MGP Sites for which it
could accrue liabilities or have responsibilities pursuant to
Environmental Laws.  Based upon the present knowledge of the
Company, the Company does not believe that the Disclosed MGP
Sites, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, Properties or conditions (financial or otherwise) of
the Company.

    Section 2.21.  Application of Other Laws.  The issuance and
purchase of the Bonds and the security interest granted by the
Indenture and contemplated by this Agreement, are not subject to
the provisions of Connecticut's Hazardous Waste Establishment
Law, Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 22a-134 et seq.

    Section 2.22.  Compliance with Environmental Laws.  The
Company is not in violation of applicable Environmental Laws,
which violation could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, prospects, Properties or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company.  The Company
has not received notification from any party that the Company has
any liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C.
Section 9601 et seq.), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.).


SECTION 3.  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE BONDS.

    Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Bonds to be
purchased by you on the Closing Date shall be subject to the
satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with such purchase and
payment, of the following conditions:

    Section 3.1.  Opinion of Your Special Counsel.  You shall
have received from Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, who are
acting as special counsel for you in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, an opinion, dated
the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to
the effect specified in Schedule IV-A hereof.

    Section 3.2.  Opinions of Counsel for the Company.  You
shall have received from Shipman & Goodwin LLP, counsel for the
Company, and Mary J. Healey, Esq., Secretary and General Counsel
of the Company, opinions, each dated the Closing Date in form and
substance satisfactory to you and your special counsel, to the
effect specified in Schedule IV-B and Schedule IV-C,
respectively, hereof.

    Section 3.3.  Opinion of Counsel for the Trustee.  You shall
have received from LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, counsel for
the Trustee, an opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and
substance satisfactory to you and your special counsel, to the
effect specified in Schedule IV-D hereof.

    Section 3.4.  Letter of Acknowledgment.  You shall have
received a letter from, or acknowledged and accepted by, the
Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you and
your special counsel, acknowledging and accepting the terms of
Sections 5.1 (Direct Payment) and 5.3 (Indemnity for Destroyed,
Lost, or Stolen Bonds) hereof.

    Section 3.5.  Documents Required by Indenture; Basis for
Authentication.  The Company shall have furnished to the Trustee
the resolutions, certificates and other instruments and cash, if
any, required to be delivered prior to or upon the issuance of
the Bonds pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.  The
Company shall have requested the Trustee to and the Trustee shall
have authenticated the Bonds pursuant to Article Five
(Authentication and Delivery of Additional Bonds) of the
Indenture.  The Company shall be able to comply with all other
conditions with respect to the authentication of the Bonds
imposed by the Indenture.

    Section 3.6.  Recordings.  On or prior to the Closing Date,
the Supplemental Indenture shall have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereof (with such changes
therein as shall be agreed upon by you and the Company), and
shall be in full force and effect, and the Indenture (including
the Supplemental Indenture) and all other documents, including,
without limitation, Uniform Commercial Code financing statements
(the "Financing Statements") and lien certificates pursuant to
Section 49-5 of the Connecticut General Statutes, shall have been
duly executed and properly recorded or filed in such manner and
in each jurisdiction in which recording is required to establish
the mortgage Lien and security interest created by the Indenture
as a first mortgage Lien on and/or a first security interest in
the Trust Estate, subject only to Permitted Encumbrances.

    Section 3.7.  Representations and Warranties True.  The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 2 (Representations and Warranties) hereof shall be true
on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such
representations and warranties had been made on and as of the
Closing Date, and you shall have received an Officers'
Certificate, dated the Closing Date, to that effect.

    Section 3.8.  Performance of the Company's Obligations.  The
Company shall have performed all of its obligations to be
performed hereunder and under the Indenture prior to or on the
Closing Date and you shall have received an Officers'
Certificate, dated the Closing Date, to that effect.

    Section 3.9.  No Pending Proceedings.  The requisite
authorization of the DPUC referred to in Section 2.13 (Regulatory
Approval Required) hereof shall be in full force and effect and
shall not have been appealed, revoked, amended, stayed or
suspended and there shall not be pending or, to the Company's
best knowledge, contemplated any proceedings before or action of
the DPUC to abrogate or modify such authorization, and you shall
have received an Officers' Certificate, dated the Closing Date,
to that effect.  Such authorization shall be legally sufficient
to authorize the offer, issuance, sale and delivery of the Bonds
and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
the Supplemental Indenture by the Company, and there can be no
abrogation or modification of such authorization after the
delivery of the Bonds which would invalidate the Bonds or alter,
diminish or void the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement, the Indenture or the Bonds.

    Section 3.10.  No Default.  No event shall have occurred,
and no condition shall exist, which shall constitute a Default,
or, after notice or the passage of time or both, could become a
Default, and you shall have received an Officers' Certificate,
dated the Closing Date, to that effect.

    Section 3.11.  Legality.  The Bonds shall qualify as a legal
investment for life insurance companies under the provisions of
the insurance law of any jurisdiction to which you are subject,
without reference to any so-called "basket" clause of such laws
(or any clause that imposes limitations on particular
investments, whether in the aggregate or individually), and you
shall have received from the Company such information or evidence
as you may reasonably request to enable you to determine whether
such purchase is so permitted.

    Section 3.12.  Private Placement Number.  On or prior to the
Closing Date, your special counsel shall have duly made the
appropriate filings with Standard & Poor's CUSIP Service Bureau,
as agent for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
in order to obtain a private placement number for the Bonds.

    Section 3.13.  Proceedings, Instruments, Etc.  All
proceedings and actions taken on or prior to the Closing Date in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and all instruments incident thereto, shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to you and your special counsel, and you and
your special counsel shall have received copies of all such
documents that you or they may reasonably have requested in
connection with such proceedings, actions and transactions
(including, without limitation, evidence of the correctness of
representations and warranties contained herein and in the
Supplemental Indenture, and evidence of compliance with the terms
and the fulfillment of the conditions of this Agreement and the
Indenture), in form and substance satisfactory to you and your
special counsel.


SECTION 4.  EXPENSES.

    Whether or not the Bonds shall be sold or this Agreement
shall be terminated, the Company will pay, and will save you
harmless against liability for, all costs and expenses relating
to this Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture or the Bonds, to
any modification, amendment or alteration of this Agreement, the
Indenture or the Bonds (whether or not the same shall have become
effective), or to any enforcement of this Agreement, the
Indenture or the Bonds, including, without limitation:

    (a)  the cost of printing, preparing and reproducing this
Agreement, the Supplemental Indenture, the Bonds and every
instrument of modification, amendment or alteration, the cost of
all recordings and filings of or in respect of the foregoing, and
the cost of obtaining a private placement number from Standard
and Poor's CUSIP Service Bureau for the Bonds;

    (b)  the fees and disbursements of your special counsel, of
your local counsel, if any, of all counsel for the Company and of
the Trustee and counsel for the Trustee;

    (c)  your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses;

    (d)  the cost of delivering to your home office, insured to
your satisfaction, the Bonds purchased by you on the Closing
Date;

    (e)  all costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
legal fees and     disbursements) relating to any amendments,
waivers
or consents involving the provisions hereof, of the Indenture or
of the Bonds (whether or not the same shall have become
effective), including, without limitation, any amendments,
waivers or consents resulting from any work-out, renegotiation or
restructuring relating to the enforcement of this Agreement, the
Indenture or the Bonds;

    (f)  the broker's or finder's fees of any Person retained by
the Company in connection with the sale of the Bonds, it being
represented and warranted by the Company that:  (i) Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is the only Person
authorized by the Company to act as agent on its behalf in
connection with the sale of the Bonds, and (ii) such Person acted
solely as agent for the Company and not as agent for you; and

    (g)  all taxes in connection with the issuance and original
sale by the Company of the Bonds and in connection with any
modification of the Bonds at the request of the Company, and will
save you and any subsequent holder of the Bonds harmless without
limitation as to time against any and all liabilities with
respect to all such taxes, including any interest or penalty for
nonpayment or delay in payment thereof and any income taxes paid
by you in connection with any reimbursement by the Company
therefor.

    The obligations of the Company under this Section 4 shall
survive the payment of the Bonds and the termination of this
Agreement.


SECTION 5.  CERTAIN SPECIAL RIGHTS.

    In the event of any conflict between any provisions set
forth below and the Indenture, the provisions set forth below
shall control.

    Section 5.1.  Direct Payment.  Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Indenture or the
Bonds, the Company shall pay all amounts with respect to each
Bond held by each Institutional Holder of Bonds (without any
presentment of such Bond and without any notation of such payment
being made thereon) by crediting before 12:00 noon, New York
time, by Federal funds bank wire transfer, the account of such
Institutional Holder, in any bank in the United States of America
as may be designated in writing by such Institutional Holder, or
in such other lawful manner as may be directed or to such other
address in the United States of America as may be designated in
writing by such Institutional Holder.  Your address on Schedule I
to this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute notice, direction
or designation (as appropriate) to the Company with respect to
direct payments as aforesaid.

    Section 5.2.  Delivery Expenses.  If you surrender any Bond
to the Company or the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement or the
Indenture, or if the Company shall issue any new Bond pursuant to
this Agreement or the Indenture (other than pursuant to requests
of Bond holders for exchanges), the Company will pay the cost of
delivering to or from your office from or to the Company or the
Trustee, insured to your satisfaction, the surrendered Bond or
Bonds and any Bond or Bonds issued in substitution or replacement
for the surrendered Bond or Bonds, in each case insured to your
satisfaction.

    Section 5.3.  Indemnity for Destroyed, Lost, or Stolen
Bonds.  The Company and the Trustee acknowledge that any holder
of Bonds that is an Institutional Holder may satisfy its
obligation to deliver security or indemnity in respect of
destroyed, lost, or stolen Bonds, as set forth in Section 3.08
(Mutilated, destroyed, lost and stolen Bonds) of the Indenture,
by delivering its own unsecured letter of indemnity in respect
thereof.

    Section 5.4.   Late Payments of Interest.   The provisions
of Section 3.09 (Payment of interest on Bonds; interest rights
preserved) (other than the first and last paragraphs thereof) of
the Indenture shall not apply to the Bonds.  Interest on any
Bond, other than that paid in accordance with first sentence of
such Section 3.09, shall be paid to the Person in whose name that
Bond (or one or more Predecessor Bonds (as defined in the
Indenture)) is registered at the close of business on the day
before such payment.

    Section 5.5.   No Presentation of Bonds.   Notwithstanding
any provisions of the Indenture to the contrary, no holder of
Bonds shall be required to present or surrender such Bonds to the
Company, the Trustee or any other Person prior to, or as a
condition of, receiving any payment in respect thereof.  You
agree that you will deliver to the Company all Bonds registered
in your name, at the time of final payment in full of all amounts
due in respect thereof, within a reasonable period after such
final payment.


SECTION 6.  INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED TO BONDHOLDERS.

    Section 6.1.  Financial and Other Statements.  The Company
shall deliver to you, if at the time you or your nominee holds
any Bonds (or if you are obligated to purchase any Bonds), and to
each other Institutional Holder of the then outstanding Bonds
(and, in the case of the financial statements delivered pursuant
to Section 6.1(b) hereof, to the Securities Valuation Office,
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 195 Broadway,
New York, New York 10007, provided that failure to do so shall
not constitute a Default or an Event of Default):

    (a)  Company Quarterly Statements   as soon as practicable
after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year
of the Company, and in any event within 45 days thereafter,
duplicate copies of: 

      (i)   a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of
    such quarter, and

     (ii)   a statement of income of the Company for such
    quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters)
    for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,
    and a statement of cash flows of the Company for the portion
    of the fiscal year ending with such quarter, 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in
reasonable detail and certified as complete and correct, subject
to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, by a principal
financial officer of the Company; if the Company shall at any
time have any Subsidiaries, all of the foregoing financial
statements shall be prepared on a consolidated basis;

    (b)  Company Annual Statements   as soon as practicable
after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, and in any
event within 90 days thereafter, duplicate copies of:

      (i)   a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of
    such year, and

     (ii)   statements of income, changes in shareholders'
    equity and cash flows of the Company for such year, 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified and
accompanied by a report thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP or other
independent public accountants of recognized national standing
selected by the Company, or other independent public accountants
acceptable to the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Bonds then outstanding, which report shall state that such
financial statements fairly present the financial condition of
the companies being reported upon and have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied (except for changes in application in which
such accountants concur) and that the examination of such
accountants in connection with such financial statements shall
have been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting
records and such other auditing procedures as were considered
necessary in the circumstances; if the Company shall at any time
have any Subsidiaries, all of the foregoing financial statements
shall be prepared on a consolidated basis.

    (c)  Parent Quarterly Statements   as soon as practicable
after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year
of the Parent, and in any event within 45 days thereafter,
duplicate copies of:

      (i)   a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its
    Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

     (ii)   a consolidated statement of income of the Parent
    and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and (in the case of
    the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal
    year ending with such quarter, and a consolidated statement
    of cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the
    portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in
reasonable detail and certified as complete and correct, subject
to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, by a principal
financial officer of the Parent;

    (d)  Parent Annual Statements   as soon as practicable after
the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, and if any event
within 90 days thereafter, duplicate copies of: 
    
         (i)  a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its
         Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

          (ii)     consolidated statements of income, changes in
         shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Parent and
         its Subsidiaries, for such year,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified and
accompanied by a report thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP, or other
independent public accountants of recognized national standing
selected by the Parent, or other independent public accountants
acceptable to the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Bonds then outstanding, which report shall state that such
financial statements fairly present the financial condition of
the companies being reported upon and have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied (except for changes in application in which
such accountants concur) and that the examination of such
accountants in connection with such financial statements shall
have been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, and accordingly included such tests of the accounting
records and such other auditing procedures as were considered
necessary in the circumstances;

    (e)  Audit Reports   promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy
of each other report submitted to the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company by independent accountants in connection with any
annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

    (f)  SEC and Other Reports   promptly upon their becoming
available one (1) copy of each financial statement, report,
notice or proxy statement sent by the Parent, the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company to stockholders generally or holders or
trustees of its publicly-traded debt securities, and of each
regular or periodic report and any registration statement or
prospectus filed by the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
any securities exchange or the SEC;

    (g)  ERISA   promptly after becoming aware of the occurrence
of any (i) "reportable event" (as such term is defined in Section
4043 of ERISA), other than reportable events with respect to
which the 30-day notice period has been waived by applicable
regulation, or (ii) "prohibited transaction" (as such term is
defined in Section 406 or Section 4975 of the Code) in connection
with any Pension Plan or any trust created thereunder, a written
notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Company is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known,
any action taken by the IRS, the Department of Labor or the PBGC
with respect thereto;

    (h)  ERISA Waivers   prompt written notice of and a
description of any request pursuant to Section 303 of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code for, or notice of the granting pursuant
to said Section 303 or Section 412 of, a waiver in respect of all
or part of the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA or the
Code, as the case may be, of any Pension Plan, and, in connection
with the granting of any such waiver, the amount of any waived
funding deficiency (as such term is defined in said Section 303
or said Section 412) and the terms of such waiver;

    (i)  Other ERISA Notices   prompt written notice of and,
where applicable, a description of (i) any notice from the PBGC
in respect of the commencement of any proceedings pursuant to
Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan or for the
appointment of a trustee to administer any Pension Plan, (ii) any
distress termination notice delivered to the PBGC under Section
4041 of ERISA in respect of any Pension Plan, and any
determination of the PBGC in respect thereof, (iii) the placement
of any Multiemployer Pension Plan in reorganization status under
Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Multiemployer Pension Plan becoming
"insolvent" (as such term is defined in Section 4245 of ERISA
under Title IV of ERISA), (v) the whole or partial withdrawal of
the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Pension
Plan and the withdrawal liability incurred in connection
therewith, and (vi) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate from any Pension Plan with respect to which it is a
"substantial employer" under, and as defined in, ERISA and the
withdrawal liability under ERISA incurred in connection
therewith;

    (j)  Notice of Default or Event of Default   immediately
upon a Designated Officer becoming aware of the existence of any
condition or event which constitutes a Default or an Event of
Default, a written notice specifying the nature and period of
existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;

    (k)  Notice of Claimed Default   immediately upon becoming
aware of the existence of a Default in respect of any Bond, or
any default in respect of any evidence of indebtedness or other
Security of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in an
outstanding principal amount of at least $1,000,000, a written
notice specifying any notice given or action taken by any holder
thereof and the nature of the claimed Default or default and what
action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto;

    (l)  Notice of Environmental Matters - (i) The Company shall
provide written notice to any holder of the Bonds within thirty
(30) days of the Company obtaining knowledge of:

         (1)  any proceeding, litigation, judgment or order by a
    governmental authority involving any Disclosed MGP Site or
    other MGP Site for which the Company is or is alleged to be
    responsible; or,

         (2)  any of the following, which, individually or in
    the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
    material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
    Properties (taken as a whole) or condition (financial or
    otherwise) of the Company:

         (A)  the violation of any Environmental Law;

         (B)  any claim, demand, investigation, proceeding, cost
    recovery action, litigation, judgment, order or lien arising
    pursuant to any Environmental Law or from the release or
    disposal of any Hazardous Substance; or,

         (C)  any other environmental, health or safety
         condition or occurrence.

         (ii) The Company shall deliver to any holder of the
    Bonds any such documents or records regarding the above
    matters which may be reasonably requested by any such holder
    and which may be obtained without need to initiate legal
    proceedings, except if such documents or records were
    generated by the Company for litigation and are protected
    from discovery or are otherwise protected from discovery or
    if such documents or records are covered by a written
    confidentiality agreement entered into by the Company for
    the purpose of maintaining the confidentiality of
    information provided to the Company by any Person other than
    an Affiliate.

    (m)  Requested Information   with reasonable promptness,
such other data and information as from time to time may be
reasonably requested, including, without limitation, such
financial or other information as may reasonably be requested to
permit the holders of the Bonds to comply with the requirements
of Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act in connection
with a resale of the Bonds, provided that the transferee agrees
to be bound by the confidentiality provisions contained in
Section 6.3 (Inspection) of this Agreement.

    You may supply copies of any financial statements or reports
furnished pursuant to this Section 6.1 to any regulatory
authority having jurisdiction over you.  The Company agrees to
supply a reasonable number of additional copies of any of the
materials referred to in this Section 6.1 upon written request.

    Section 6.2.  Officers' Certificates.  Each set of financial
statements delivered to you or any other holder of the Bonds
pursuant to Section 6.1(b) (Financial and Other Statements
(Company Annual Statements)) hereof shall be accompanied by a
certificate of the President or a Vice-President and the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company setting forth
that the signers have reviewed the relevant terms of this
Agreement and the Indenture and have made, or caused to be made
under their supervision, a review of the transactions and
conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning
of the accounting period covered by the income statements being
delivered therewith to the date of the certificate and that such
review shall have not disclosed the existence during such period
of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or an Event
of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists,
specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what
action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with
respect thereto.

    Section 6.3.  Inspection.  The Company shall permit any of
your representatives, while you or your nominee shall hold any
Bond, or the representatives of any other Institutional Holder of
the Bonds, at your or such holder's expense (unless a Default or
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case
at the Company's expense), to visit and inspect any of the
Properties of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, to
examine all their respective books of account, records, reports
and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to
discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with
their respective officers, employees and, if you shall reasonably
believe that a Default or an Event of Default exists, with
independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company
authorizes said accountants to discuss the finances and affairs
of the Company and its Subsidiaries) provided that prior notice
of the request by you for such discussions is given to the
Company (unless a Default has occurred, in which case no prior
notice shall be required) all at such reasonable times and as
often as may be reasonably requested.

    All information which is furnished to or obtained by any
holder of Bonds pursuant to Section 6.1 (Financial and Other
Statements) hereof, Section 6.2 (Officers' Certificates) hereof,
or this Section 6.3 shall be received and held in confidence
unless or until the same has been publicly disclosed (other than
by or on behalf of any Bond holder); provided, however, that any
holder of Bonds shall not in any way be inhibited in the use of
such information in order to determine and enforce compliance
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or the Indenture
or take any lawful action which it deems necessary to protect its
interests herein and in the Bonds or the Indenture, and provided,
further, that any holder of Bonds may furnish any such
information in compliance with any court order or the
requirements of any regulatory body, agency, authority or
commission to whose jurisdiction such holder may be subject, to
its independent accountants, attorneys or to any Person to whom
such holder owes any duty of disclosure, to the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners, rating agencies and to
any Institutional Holder to whom such holder is considering
selling any Bonds.  It is understood that no Bond holder shall be
liable to the Company or to any other Person in damages for
failure to comply with the undertaking contained in this
paragraph except in any case involving gross negligence or
willful misconduct by such holder.


SECTION 7.  COVENANTS.

    In the event of any conflict between any provisions set
forth below and the Indenture, the provisions set forth below
shall control.

    Section 7.1.   Purchase of the Bonds.   The Company shall
not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates
to, directly or indirectly, acquire or make any offer to acquire
any Bonds unless the Company or any such Subsidiary or Affiliate
shall have offered to acquire Bonds, pro rata, from all holders
of Bonds, upon the same terms.

    Section 7.2.  Bondholder Expenses on Acceleration.  So long
as any Bond shall be outstanding, upon the rescission and
annulment of a declaration of acceleration and its consequences,
as provided for in Section 9.02 (Acceleration of maturity;
rescission and annulment) of the Indenture, the Company shall pay
the reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of each
holder of Bonds (including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of its counsel).


    Section 7.3.  Transmission of Funds.  The Trustee shall
transmit to each holder of Bonds, by wire transfer of immediately
available funds as provided in Schedule I hereto, or in such
other manner as may be directed or to such other address in the
United States of America as may be designated in writing by such
holder, all funds received by it (whether by means of foreclosure
on the Trust Estate or otherwise) that are payable in respect of
the Bonds. (Nothing in this Section 7.3 shall be deemed to affect
the Company's obligation to make payments in the manner provided
in Section 5.1 (Direct Payment) of this Agreement.)  Such wire
transmissions shall be made on the same day as the Trustee shall
receive collected funds if such receipt shall occur prior to
12:00 noon Hartford, Connecticut time on such day and, in all
other cases, on the next succeeding Business Day.

    Section 7.4.  Compensation and Reimbursement.  The Company
agrees to indemnify any holder of Bonds that has made a payment
to the Trustee as the result of any security or indemnity given
to the Trustee by such holder pursuant to Section 10.03(E)
(Certain rights of Trustee) of the Indenture in circumstances
where the Company would otherwise have been obligated under the
terms of the Indenture or this Agreement to reimburse the Trustee
or any holder of the Bonds for, or indemnify the Trustee or any
holder of the Bonds against, the costs, expenses and/or
liabilities for which such payment was made.

    Section 7.5.  Defaults and Acceleration.  (a) Pursuant to
the Indenture, for purposes of determining whether a Default or
Event of Default exists with respect to the Bonds, but only with
respect to the Bonds, the following shall also constitute Events
of Default under the Indenture:

      (i)   default in the performance, or breach, of any
    covenant or warranty in this Agreement (other than (1)
    Section 6.1(l) (Financial and Other Statements (Notice of
    Environmental Matters)) hereof or (2) a covenant or warranty
    a default in the performance or breach of which is
    specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Agreement), and
    continuance of such default or breach for a period of 30
    days after notice has been given in accordance with the
    procedures described in Section 9.01C (Events of Default) of
    the Indenture; or

     (ii)   default in any representation or warranty made by
    the Company herein, or made by the Company in any statement
    or certificate furnished by the Company in connection with
    the consummation of the issuance and delivery of the Bonds
    is untrue in any material respect as of the date of the
    issuance or making thereof; or

    (iii)   the Company or any of its Subsidiaries defaults in
    any payment, beyond any period of grace provided with
    respect thereto, of principal of, or premium or interest on,
    any obligation for borrowed money having an outstanding
    principal amount of $10,000,000 or more; or

     (iv)   a final, non-appealable judgment in an amount in
    excess of $10,000,000 above available insurance coverage (so
    long as the insurer shall have agreed, in writing at the
    time such judgment shall become final, that it is
    responsible for payment of such judgment up to the limit of
    available coverage) is rendered against the Company or any
    of its Subsidiaries and, within 60 days after entry thereof,
    such judgment is not discharged.

(b) In addition to the sums stated to be payable pursuant to
Section 9.06 (Covenant to pay Trustee amounts due on Bonds and
right of Trustee to judgment) of the Indenture upon the
occurrence of the defaults referred to therein, upon the
occurrence of an acceleration pursuant to Section 9.02
(Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment) of the
Indenture, the Company shall pay the Make Whole Amount,
calculated as of the time of such payment, to each holder of
Bonds in respect of the Bonds held by such holder.

    "Make-Whole Amount" shall mean in connection with any
redemption or prepayment or acceleration of the Bonds, the
excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate present value as of the date
of such redemption or prepayment of each dollar of principal
being redeemed or prepaid and the amount of interest (exclusive
of interest accrued to the date of redemption or prepayment) that
would have been payable in respect of such dollar if such
redemption or prepayment or acceleration had not been made,
determined by discounting such amounts at the Reinvestment Rate
from the respective dates on which they would have been payable,
over (b) 100% of the principal amount of the outstanding Bonds
being redeemed, prepaid or paid. If the Reinvestment Rate is
equal to or higher than 7.19%, the Make-Whole Amount shall be
zero.  For purposes of any determination of Make-Whole Amount:

         "Reinvestment Rate" shall mean (1) the sum of .50
         plus the yield reported on page "USD" of the
         Bloomberg Financial Market Services Screen (or, if
         not available, any other nationally recognized
         trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading in
         United States government Securities) at 12:00 noon
         (New York time) on such date for United States
         government Securities having a maturity rounded to
         the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining
         Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the principal
         being redeemed, prepaid or paid or (2) in the event
         that no such nationally recognized trading screen
         reporting on-line intraday trading in United States
         government Securities is available, Reinvestment
         Rate shall mean .50 plus the arithmetic mean of the
         yields under the respective headings "This Week" and
         "Last Week" published in the Statistical Release
         under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities" for
         the maturity (rounded to the nearest month)
         corresponding to the Weighted Average Life to
         Maturity of the principal being redeemed, prepaid or
         paid.  If no maturity exactly corresponds to such
         Weighted Average Life to Maturity, yields for the
         two published maturities most closely corresponding
         to such Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall be
         calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding
         sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be
         interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a
         straight-line basis, rounding in each of such
         relevant periods to the nearest month.  For the
         purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the
         most recent Statistical Release published prior to
         the date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount
         shall be used.

         "Statistical Release" shall mean the then most
         recently published statistical release designated
         "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is
         published weekly by the Federal Reserve System and
         which establishes yields on actively traded U.S.
         Government Securities adjusted to constant
         maturities or, if such statistical release is not
         published at the time of any determination
         hereunder, then such other reasonably comparable
         index which shall be designated by the holders of
         66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the
         outstanding Bonds.

         "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" of the principal
         amount of the Bonds being redeemed, prepaid or paid
         shall mean, as of the time of any determination
         thereof, the number of years obtained by dividing
         the then Remaining Dollar-Years of such principal by
         the aggregate amount of such principal.  The term
         'Remaining Dollar-Years" of such principal shall
         mean the amount obtained by (1) multiplying the
         amount of principal that would have become due at
         the stated maturity of the Bonds if such redemption,
         prepayment or payment had not been made by the
         number of years (calculated to the nearest one-
         twelfth) which will elapse between the date of
         determination and such stated maturity date of the
         Bonds.


SECTION 8.  INTERPRETATION OF AGREEMENT.

    Section 8.1.   Definitions.  Except as the context shall
otherwise require, the following terms shall have the following
meanings for all purposes of this Agreement (the definitions to
be applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of the
terms defined, where either such form is used in this Agreement):

    The term "Accredited Investor" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Section 2(15) or Rule 501(a) under the
Securities Act.

    The term "Affiliate" with respect to any Person shall mean a
Person (a) which, directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such Person, (b) which, directly or indirectly,
beneficially owns or holds of record 10% or more of the shares of
any class of capital stock of or interest in such Person, (c) 10%
or more of the shares of any class of capital stock of or
interests in which is, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned
or held of record by such Person, or (d) who is an officer or
director of (or an individual performing similar management or
supervisory functions for) such Person.  The term "control"
(including the related terms "controlled by" and "under common
control with") shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of capital
stock, by contract or otherwise.

    The term "Bonds" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 1.1 (Issue of Bonds and Security) hereof.

    The term "Business Day" shall mean a day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday or the equivalent for banking
institutions generally (other than a moratorium) in Hartford,
Connecticut or New York, New York.

    The term "Closing Date" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 1.2 (Sale of Bonds) hereof.

    The term "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.

    The term "Company" shall mean Yankee Gas Services Company, a
specially chartered Connecticut corporation, and its successors
and assigns.

    The term "Default" shall mean any event or condition, the
occurrence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving
of notice, or both, constitute an Event of Default.

    The term "Designated Officer" shall mean any officer of the
Company who may sign an Officers' Certificate under the
Indenture.

    The term "Disclosed MGP Site" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.20 (MGP Sites) hereof.

    The term "DPUC" shall mean the Department of Public Utility
Control of the State of Connecticut.

    The term "Environmental Law" shall mean any federal, state
or local, statute, law, regulation, ordinance, order, consent
decree, judgment, permit, license, code, common law or other
legal requirement now or, for purposes of Section 6.1(l)
(Financial and Other Statements (Notice of Environmental
Matters)), hereafter enacted pertaining to protection of the
environment, health or safety of persons, natural resources,
conservation, wildlife, waste management, any Hazardous
Substance, and pollution (including, without limitation,
regulation of releases and disposals to air, land, water and
groundwater), and includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980,
as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Action
of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq., Solid Waste Disposal
Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C.
Section et seq., Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended
by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.,
Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et
seq., Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. Section
2601 et seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as
amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq., Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Section 11001 et
seq., National Environmental Policy Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C.
Section 4321 et. seq., Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 300(f) et seq., and any similar or
implementing state law, and all amendments, rules, regulations
and publications promulgated thereunder.

    The term "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, amended.

    The term "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any corporation or
trade or business that (i) is a member of the same controlled
group of corporations (within the meaning of Section 414(b) of
the Code) as the Company or (ii) is under common control (within
the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code) with the Company.

    The term "Event of Default" shall mean one of the "events of
default" enumerated in Section 7.5(a) hereof or Article Nine
(Remedies) of the Indenture.

    The term "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.

    The term "FERC" shall mean the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.

    The term "Hazardous Substance" shall mean any hazardous or
toxic chemical, waste, byproduct, pollutant, contaminant,
product, material or substance, including without limitation,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum (including crude
oil or any fraction thereof) and any substance defined as a
hazardous substance or waste pursuant to an Environmental Law.

    The term "hereof", "herein," "hereunder" and other words of
similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision.

    The term "heretofore" shall be construed to refer to the
time prior to the date of original execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement.

    The term "holder" (with respect to any Bond) shall mean the
Person in whose name a bond is registered in the register of
Bonds maintained pursuant to the Indenture.

    The term "Indebtedness" with respect to any Person shall
mean all items (other than capital stock and surplus) which, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, would
be shown on the liability side of a balance sheet of such Person
as of the date on which indebtedness is to be determined.  The
term "Indebtedness" shall also include, whether or not so
reflected, (a) debt, obligations and liabilities secured by any
Lien existing on Property owned by such Person if such Property
shall be subject to such Lien, whether or not the debt,
obligations or liabilities secured thereby shall have been
assumed; (b) debt which has been removed in substance from the
balance sheet of the Company as a result of the in-substance
defeasance thereof; (c) obligations of such Person under any
lease which is required under generally accepted accounting
principles prevailing on the date of determination to be shown on
the liability side of a balance sheet of such Person or which,
whether or not required to be so shown, contains terms that
require the payment of lease rentals whether or not the Property
leased thereunder shall exist or can be used for the purpose for
which it shall have been leased, or provides for a termination
payment calculated to be sufficient to retire any debt,
obligations or liabilities secured by a Lien on such lease or on
the Property leased thereunder; (d) all obligations of such
Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness,
dividend or other obligation of any other Person and (e) all
obligations of such Person to purchase any materials, supplies or
other Property, or to obtain the services of any other Person, if
the relevant contract or other related document requires that
payment for such materials, supplies or other Property, or for
such services, shall be made regardless of whether or not
delivery of such materials, supplies or other Property is ever
made or tendered or such services are ever performed or tendered.

    The term "Indenture" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 1.1 (Issue of Bonds and Security) hereof.

    The term "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service and
any successor agency.

    The term "Institutional Holder" shall mean (a) you and any
of your Affiliates or nominees, and (b) any insurance company,
bank, savings and loan association, trust company, investment
company, charitable foundation, employee benefit plan (as defined
in ERISA) or other institutional investor or financial
institution which is the record or beneficial owner of not less
than $250,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds
outstanding, provided that this limitation shall not be
applicable in the event that the aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding Bonds is less than $250,000.

    The term "Lien" shall mean any interest in Property securing
an obligation owed to, or a claim by, any Person other than the
owner of the Property, whether such interest shall be based on
the common law, statute or contract, and including the Lien or
security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge,
conditional sale or trust receipt, or from a lease, consignment
or bailment for security purposes.  The term "Lien" shall also
include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements,
rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and
other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property.  For
purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be the
owner of any Property that it shall have acquired or shall hold
subject to a conditional sale agreement or other arrangement
(including a leasing arrangement) pursuant to which title to the
Property shall have been retained by or vested in some other
Person for security purposes.

    The term "MGP Site" shall mean any real property upon which
a manufactured gas plant or facility manufacturing gas from coal
or petroleum is or was located.

    The term "Multiemployer Pension Plan" shall mean any
"multiemployer pension plan" (as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA) in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is
an "employer" (as such term is defined in Section 3 of ERISA).

    The term "Multiple Employer Pension Plan" shall mean any
employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA
other than a Multiemployer Pension Plan, subject to Title IV of
ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and an
"employer" (as such term is defined in Section 3 of ERISA) other
than an ERISA Affiliate or the Company contribute.

    The term "Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate
executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board,
the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller
or the chief financial officer of the Company.

    The term "Original Indenture" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 1.1 (Issue of Bonds and Security)
hereof.

    The term "Parent" shall mean Yankee Energy System, Inc., a
Connecticut corporation, and its successors and assigns.

    The term "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation and any successor corporation or governmental agency.

    The term "Pension Plan" shall mean any "employee pension
benefit plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3 of ERISA)
maintained by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate for employees of
the Company or such ERISA Affiliate, excluding any Multiemployer
Pension Plan, but including, without limitation, any Multiple
Employer Pension Plan.

    The term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 1.01 (Definitions) of the Indenture.

    The term "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or
government or an agency or political subdivision thereof.

    The term "Prime Rate" shall mean the prime rate of interest
as publicly announced from time to time by Fleet National Bank,
Hartford Connecticut.

    The term "Private Placement Memorandum" shall have the
meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.4 (Restrictions on
Transfer; Legend) hereof.

    The term "Property" shall mean any interest in any kind of
property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether
tangible or intangible.

    The term "Purchasers" shall mean and include each of the
purchasers of the Bonds named in Schedule I to this Agreement.

    The term "Qualified Institutional Buyer" shall have the
meaning assigned thereto in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

    The term "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

    The term "Security" shall have the same meaning as in
Section 2(1) of the Securities Act of 1933.

    The term "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of
1933.

    The term "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which
more than 50% of the Voting Stock is at the time directly or
indirectly owned by the Company or the Parent, as the case may
be.

    The term "Supplemental Indenture" shall have the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 1.1 (Issue of Bonds and Security)
hereof.

    The term "this Agreement" shall mean this Bond Purchase
Agreement (including the annexed Schedules and Exhibits), as it
may from time to time be amended, supplemented or modified, in
accordance with its terms.

    The term "Trustee" shall mean Fleet National Bank and its
successors and assigns.

    The term "Voting Stock" shall mean the stock of any class or
classes of a corporation the holders of which are ordinarily, in
the absence of contingencies, entitled to elect a majority of the
corporate directors (or persons performing similar functions).

    Section 8.2.  Directly or Indirectly.  Any provision in this
Agreement referring to action which any Person is prohibited from
taking shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly
or indirectly by such Person.

    Section 8.3.  Accounting Terms.  All accounting terms used
herein which are not otherwise expressly defined herein or in the
Indenture shall have the meanings respectively given to them in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applicable to a company in the same business as the Company,
including applicable accounting rules imposed by an regulatory
agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

    Section 8.4.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Connecticut.

    Section 8.5.  Headings. The headings of the Sections and
other subdivisions of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof.


SECTION 9.  MISCELLANEOUS.

    Section 9.1.  Notices.  (a) Unless otherwise expressly
specified by the terms hereof, all notices and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by prepaid
overnight courier (i) if to you, to you at your address shown in
Schedule I to this Agreement, marked for attention as there
indicated, or at such other address as you may have furnished to
the Company in writing, (ii) if to any other holder of a Bond, to
it at the address listed in the books for the registration and
registration of transfer of Bonds, or at such other address as
such holder may have furnished to the Company in writing and
(iii) if to the Company, to it at its address shown at the head
of this Agreement, or at such other address as it may have
furnished in writing to you and all other holders of the Bonds at
the time outstanding.

(b) Any written communication so addressed and mailed by
registered or certified mail (in each case, with return receipt
requested) or prepaid overnight courier shall be deemed to have
been given when so mailed.  All other written communications
shall be deemed to have been given upon receipt thereof.

    Section 9.2.  Reproduction of Documents.  This Agreement and
all documents relating hereto, including, without limitation, (a)
consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be
executed, (b) documents received by you at the closing of your
purchase of the Bonds (including specimens of the Bonds but not
the Bonds themselves) and (c) financial statements, certificates
and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you,
may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic,
microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar
process and you may destroy any original documents so reproduced.

The Company agrees and stipulates that it will not object to the
admission in evidence of such reproduction as the original itself
in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the
original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was
made by you in the regular course of business) on the grounds
that it is a reproduction and that any enlargement, facsimile or
further reproduction of such reproduction shall have the benefit
of this Section 9.2.



    Section 9.3.  Survival; Severability.

(a) Survival.  All representations, warranties, and covenants
made by the Company herein or in any certificate or other
instrument delivered by it or on its behalf under this Agreement
on or prior to the Closing Date shall be considered to have been
relied upon by you and shall survive the delivery to you of the
Bonds purchased by you, regardless of any investigation made by
you or on your behalf, and shall survive the final payment at
maturity of the Bonds with respect to causes of action accruing
after said date of final payment and maturity.  All statements in
any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute
representations and warranties as of the Closing Date by the
Company hereunder.

(b) Severability.   If any provision of this Agreement is
invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, such provision is
and shall be ineffective, to the extent to which it is contrary
to applicable law, but the remaining provisions of this Agreement
shall remain in effect and shall not be affected thereby.

    Section 9.4.   Successors and Assigns.   This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the
successors and assignees of each of the parties (including each
subsequent holder of the Bonds, unless otherwise provided
herein).  The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be for
your benefit and for the benefit of all holders from time to time
of the Bonds and shall be enforceable by you and any other such
holder, whether or not an express assignment to such holder of
rights under this Agreement shall have been made by you or your
successors or assigns.

    Section 9.5.  Amendment and Waiver.  This Agreement may be
amended, and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be
waived, with (and only with) the written consent of the Company
and holders of more than fifty percent (50%) in aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding (exclusive
of Bonds then owned or held by the Company or any Subsidiary or
other Affiliate thereof); provided, however, that no such
amendment or waiver shall, without the written consent of the
holders of all the Bonds at the time outstanding (exclusive of
Bonds then owned or held by the Company or any Subsidiary or
other Affiliate thereof), (a) amend this Section 9.5 or (b) amend
Section 7.5 hereof. Nothing herein shall be deemed to amend
Article Thirteen (Supplemental Indentures) of the Indenture.

    Section 9.6.   Amendment of DPUC Authorization.   The
Company hereby covenants that, without the prior written consent
of the holders of all the Bonds at the time outstanding, it will
not petition or otherwise request that the DPUC revoke or amend
the authorization of the DPUC referred to in Section 2.13
(Regulatory Approval Required) hereof with respect to the
issuance of the Bonds in any manner which would invalidate the
Bonds or alter, diminish or void the obligations of the Company
under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Bonds.

    Section 9.7.  Duplicate Originals; Execution and
Counterpart.  Two or more duplicate originals of this Agreement
may be signed by the parties, each of which shall be an original
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts and shall be effective when at least one counterpart
shall have been executed by each party hereto, and each set of
counterpart which, collectively, show execution by each party
hereto shall constitute one duplicate original.


<PAGE>

    If the foregoing is satisfactory to you, please sign the
form of acceptance on the enclosed counterpart or counterparts
hereof and return the same to the Company, whereupon this letter,
as so accepted, shall become a binding contract between you and
the Company.

                             Very truly yours,

                             YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY



                             By
                                  ------------------------
                               Name:
                                  ------------------------
                               Title:
                                  ------------------------



The foregoing Agreement is hereby
accepted:

The Security Mutual Life Insurance Company 
  of Lincoln, Nebraska



By 
    --------------------------
  Name:
    --------------------------
  Title:                
    --------------------------


<PAGE>

YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY
                                    
                $30,000,000 in Aggregate Principal Amount
                                    
                                   of
                                    
             First Mortgage Bonds, 7.19% Series E, Due 2012
                                    
                                    
                                    
                         BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                        Dated as of April 1, 1997





<PAGE>
                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Register securities in the name of: Aid Association for Lutherans

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

Investment Department
Aid Association for Lutherans
4321 N Ballard Rd.
Appleton, WI 54919

All Payment Notices to the Above Address and to:

Income Collection and Disbursement
Ref Account # 846647
Citicorp Services Inc.
1410 N Westshore Blvd
4th Floor
Tampa, FL 33607

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

Citibank, NYC/CUST.
ABA #021-000-089
DDA #36112805
ATTN: John Colavito
REF ACCOUNT # 846647
AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS CUSTODY ACCOUNT
Include description of security, CUSIP number, maturity date,
payable date, principal and interest breakdown, and interest rate
if variable rate.

Taxpayer ID Number: 39-0123480

Amount of Commitment of Aid Association for Lutherans: $5,000,000



<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

Berkshire Life Insurance Company
Attn: Securities Department
700 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201

telephone: (413) 499-4321
fax: (413) 443-9397

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

Berkshire Life Insurance Company
Account Number 002-4-020877
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.
ABA #021000021

with sufficient information (including issuer, PPN number,
interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of principal,
premium or interest) to identify the source and application of
such funds.

Taxpayer ID Number: 04-1083480

Amount of Commitment of Berkshire Life Insurance Company:
$1,000,000



<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

All notices of payment and written confirmation of wire transfers
are to be sent to:

Knights of Columbus
Attn: Accounting Departmemt
P.O. Box 2016
New Haven, CT 06521-2016

All other communications are to be sent to:

Knights of Columbus
Attn: Investment Department
One Columbus Plaza
New Haven, CT 06510-3326

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

BK OF NYC/CUST
A/C #8900300825
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GENERAL ACCOUNT
ABA #021000018

with sufficient information to identify the source and
application of such funds.

Taxpayer ID Number: 06-0416470

Amount of Commitment of Knights of Columbus: $5,000,000



<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Register securities in the name of: Security First Life Insurance
Company

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

Security First Life Insurance Company
c/o London Life
255 Dufferin Avenue
London, Ontario N6A 4K1
Canada

Attn:     Manager U.S. Fixed Income (Private Placements)
     Securities Department

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

Bank of New York
1 Wall Street
New York, N.Y. 10286

Account Name: Security First Group Corporate Bond Account
Account #328175
ABA #021000018

Security First Life Insurance Company Tax ID # 540696644

Amount of Commitment of Security First Life Insurance Company:
$3,000,000


<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

MSI Insurance Co.
Attn: Investment Dept.
Two Pine Tree Drive
Arden Hills, MN 55112

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

Norwest Bank Minnesota
ABA #091000019
Trust Clearing Account #08-40-245
Attn: Sara Corcoran
For Credit to: Mutual Service Life Insurance Company Account
#13109900

Taxpayer ID Number: 410203970

Amount of Commitment of Mutual Service Life Insurance Company:
$1,000,000





<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Instructions for Delivery of All Notices and Correspondence

New York Life Insurance Company
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010

Attn:     Investment Department
          Private Finance Group
          Room 206
          Fax: (212) 447-4160

with a copy of any notices regarding defaults or Events of
Defaults under the operative documents to:
Attn:     Office of General Counsel
          Investment Section, Room 1104
          Fax: (212) 576-8340

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York
New York, New York 10015
ABA #021-000-238
For the account of New York Life Insurance Company
General Account #810-00-000

With sufficient information (including issuer, Private Placement
Number, interest rate, maturity and whether payment is of
principal, premium, or interest) to identify the source and
application of such funds.

With advice of such payments to:

New York Life Insurance Company
51 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010-1603
Attn:     Treasury Department
     Securities Income Section
     Room 209
     Fax: (212) 447-4160

Taxpayer ID Number: 13-5582869

Amount of Commitment of New York Life Insurance Company:
$14,000,000



<PAGE>

                                SCHEDULE I

          Name and Address of Purchaser and Amount of Commitment

Instructions for Delivery of Payment Notices and Confirmation of
Wire Transfers

The Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska
200 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508
Attention: Investment Division

telephone: (402) 434-9500
fax: (402) 434-9599

All Other Correspondence to:

The Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska
200 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, NE 68508

Instructions for Wire Transfer Payments

National Bank of Commerce
13th and O Street
Lincoln, NE
ABA #1040-00045

Account of: Security Mutual Life
Account of: 40-797-624

Each such wire transfer shall set forth the name of the issuer,
the full title of the Notes (including the rate and final
redemption to maturity date) and application of such funds among
principal, premium and interest, if applicable.

Taxpayer ID Number: 47-0293990

Amount of Commitment of The Security Mutual Life Insurance
Company of Lincoln, Nebraska: $1,000,000


<PAGE>
                                SCHEDULE V

                      Wire Transfer Instructions for 
                        Yankee Gas Services Company


Yankee Gas Services Company
599 Research Parkway
P.O. Box 1030
Meriden, CT 06450

Fleet National Bank of Connecticut
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06115

ABA #011500010
Account #6608-5840

Bank contact for verification of receipt of funds is Mr. Thomas
Rose, telephone number (617) 346-0572.