TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: February 7, 2000

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gila Bend Area Residents Invited to Comment on U S WEST Service Quality
also Proposal to Transfer Local Service to Citizens Utilities

The Arizona Corporation Commission has scheduled a U S WEST Service Quality Public Comment Meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2000 in Gila Bend, Arizona. The meeting will allow U S WEST customers to inform the Commission of service quality problems they may be experiencing. Commissioner Bill Mundell will chair the meeting. Residents of Buckeye, Tonopah, Arlington, Theba, Ajo and nearby areas are encouraged to attend.

On August 31, 1999, the Commission held a U S WEST Service Quality Forum at the Commission's offices in Phoenix. Commissioner Mundell wanted to extend similar opportunities to U S WEST customers in other parts of the state. Public Comment Meetings in places such as Nogales, Bisbee, Casa Grande, Green Valley, Prescott, Payson and Tucson have been well received.

The U S WEST Service Quality Public Comment Meeting will take place in the Gila Bend Town Hall at 644 West Pima Street, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The meeting will open with a brief discussion of the issues. Members of the community will be able to air their concerns or ask questions about service issues. U S WEST personnel, if present, will have an opportunity to respond. In addition, public comment will be taken on the joint petition by U S WEST and Citizens Utilities Company for the transfer of local telephone service to Citizens Utilities.

For more information on the meeting, please contact Commissioner Mundell's Executive Assistant, Hercules Dellas at (602) 542-3935.

About the Process:

This is a formal hearing. Residents will be asked to introduce themselves by name and then address their concerns or questions to the Commissioner(s) or company representatives. A court reporter will be present to document all comments shared at the proceeding. Citizen input will become part of the official record that the Commissioners review prior to making any final decisions on pending matters.