Philadelphia Suburban Corporation Reports a 13.8 Percent Increase in Earnings Per Share in Second Quarter 2000

July 26, 2000
Philadelphia Suburban Corporation Reports a 13.8 Percent Increase in Earnings Per Share in Second Quarter 2000BRYN MAWR, Pa. July 26, 2000 - Philadelphia Suburban Corporation (NYSE/PSC) today reported a 13.8 percent increase in diluted net income per common share to $.33 in the quarter ended June 30 versus $.29 in the corresponding quarter in 1999.
    Despite unfavorable weather conditions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the company achieved improved results. The increase in earnings was primarily due to various rate case settlements, the partial recovery of certain previously-expensed merger costs, customer growth from acquisitions and continued company-wide cost containment efforts.
    Revenues for the second quarter increased to $68.5 million, a 3.5 percent increase over the $66.2 million reported in 1999. Net income was $13.6 million, up $1.6 million from the same period in 1999.
    Year-to-date revenues from operations increased to $133.0 million, a 6.6 percent increase over the $124.8 million reported in 1999. Net income for the six months was $23.8 million, up 93.5 percent from the $12.3 million reported during the same period in 1999 resulting in improved diluted net income per common share to $.58 from the $.30 reported last year.
    The improvement in 2000 was attributable to rate settlement awards, customer growth from acquisitions, partial recovery of previously-expensed merger costs, and the sale of securities, while 1999 was adversely effected by a non-recurring first quarter charge of $8.6 million (net of taxes) from merger costs.
    PSC's ongoing, company-wide cost containment initiatives continue to drive down its operating expense ratio to 38.1 percent on a trailing 12-month basis versus 38.9 percent in the same period last year, as synergies attained through the integration of the Consumers Water Company were realized.
    Customer growth was nearly five percent since June 30, 1999, due primarily to PSC's growth-through-acquisitions strategy. The following recent growth ventures have contributed to this:

-- Bensalem - Bucks County, PA

-- Apple Grove - Stark County, OH

-- Twin Hills - Chester County, PA

-- Fulmor Heights - Montgomery County, PA

-- Village of Bradley - Kankakee County, IL

-- 5 additional smaller growth ventures

    Nicholas DeBenedictis, Chairman and CEO commenting on the quarter stated, Our strong second quarter is an indication that our growth-through-acquisition strategy continues to be successful. Also, we are encouraged by the fair treatment we have received from state regulators in response to our growth initiatives and major capital investment in infrastructure.
    PSC is the holding company for Philadelphia Suburban Water Company and Consumers Water Company, regulated public utilities that provide water to nearly 2 million residents in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois and Maine. PSC's common shares are traded under the ticker symbol PSCon both the New York and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges. PSC has been committed to the preservation and improvement of the environment throughout its history which spans more than 100 years.

    The following table shows the comparative operating revenues, net income and net income per share for Philadelphia Suburban Corporation for the quarters and six months ended June 30, 2000 and 1999 (in thousands, except per share amounts)




                                         (Unaudited)
                                      
                             Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended  
                                June 30                June 30       
                            ----------------------------------------
                            2000        1999       2000        1999
            
Operating revenues      $  68,494   $  66,165   $ 133,004   $ 124,762
Income before
 merger costs,
 net of tax             $  13,565   $  12,033   $  23,811   $  20,945
Merger costs,
 net of tax                  --          --          --     $  (8,596)
Net income
 available
 to common
 stock                  $  13,565   $  12,033   $  23,811   $  12,349

Net income
 per common share:
 Basic net
  income per share      $     .33   $     .29   $     .58   $     .30 
                                                            
 Diluted net
  income per share      $     .33   $     .29   $     .58   $     .30

 Average common
  shares outstanding:
   Basic                   40,981      40,800      40,961      40,784
   Diluted                 41,441      41,251      41,337      41,266
                                                               

	   This release contains certain forward-looking statements involving
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results to be materially different from any future results expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include,
among others, the following: general economic business conditions; the
success of certain cost containment initiatives, including the
recovery of merger costs; changes in regulations or regulatory
treatment; availability and cost of capital; and the success of
growth.

          Philadelphia Suburban Corporation and Subsidiaries
      Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)

                          Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                             June 30,                 June 30,
                             --------                 --------
                         2000         1999        2000         1999
                         ----         ----        ----         ----
Operating revenues   $  68,494    $  66,165    $ 133,004    $ 124,762

Cost & expenses:
 Operations and
  maintenance           24,350       24,203       49,278       46,928
 Depreciation            7,665        7,608       15,916       15,027
 Amortization              388          292          658          712
 Taxes other than
  income taxes           5,597        5,624       11,579       11,212
 Restructuring
  costs (recovery)        (396)        --           (396)       3,787
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Total                   37,604       37,727       77,035       77,666
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------

Operating income        30,890       28,438       55,969       47,096
Interest expense,
 net                     9,990        8,530       19,845       16,621
Gain on sale of
 securities               --           --         (1,061)        --
Minority interest           28           27           46           42
Allowance for
 funds used
 during
 construction             (985)        (469)      (1,719)        (857)
Merger transaction
 costs (recovery)         (663)        --           (663)       6,334
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Income before
 income taxes           22,520       20,350       39,521       24,956
Provision for
 income taxes            8,929        8,283       15,657       12,538
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net income              13,591       12,067       23,864       12,418
Dividends on
 preferred stock            26           34           53           69
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Net income
 available to
 common stock        $  13,565    $  12,033    $  23,811    $  12,349
                     =========    =========    =========    =========

Net income           $  13,591    $  12,067    $  23,864    $  12,418
Other
 comprehensive
 income (loss),
 net of tax                144         --           (510)        --
                     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
Comprehensive
 income              $  13,735    $  12,067    $  23,354    $  12,418
                     =========    =========    =========    =========

Net income per
 common share:
   Basic             $    0.33    $    0.29    $    0.58    $    0.30
   Diluted           $    0.33    $    0.29    $    0.58    $    0.30

Average shares
 outstanding:
   Basic                40,981       40,800       40,961       40,784
                     =========    =========    =========    =========
   Diluted              41,441       41,251       41,337       41,266
                     =========    =========    =========    =========


          Philadelphia Suburban Corporation and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
          (In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

                                       (Unaudited)         (Audited)
                                         June 30,         December 31,
                                           2000               1999
                                        ------------------------------
      Assets
Property, plant and
 equipment, at cost                     $ 1,451,533       $ 1,393,027
Less accumulated
 depreciation                               274,467           257,663
                                        -----------       -----------
 Net property, plant
  and equipment                           1,177,066         1,135,364
                                        -----------       -----------


Current assets:
 Cash and cash
  equivalents                                 8,429             4,658
 Accounts receivable
  and unbilled
  revenues, net                              48,585            44,399
 Inventory, materials
  and supplies                                4,442             3,948
 Prepayments and
  other current assets                        3,442             6,520
                                        -----------       -----------
  Total current assets                       64,898            59,525
                                        -----------       -----------

Regulatory assets                            59,166            58,287
Deferred charges
 and other assets, net                       31,210            27,629
                                        -----------       -----------

                                        $ 1,332,340       $ 1,280,805
                                        ===========       ===========
Liabilities and
 Stockholders' Equity
Stockholders' equity:
 6.05% Series B
  cumulative preferred
  stock                                 $     1,760       $     1,760
 Common stock at $.50
  par value, authorized
  100,000,000 shares,
  issued 41,856,617 and
  41,627,644 in 2000 and
  1999                                       20,928            20,814
 Capital in excess of
  par value                                 255,613           251,440
 Retained earnings                          110,589           101,533
 Minority interest                            2,613             2,604
 Treasury stock, 792,764
  and 615,038 shares in
  2000 and 1999                             (14,642)          (11,270)
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive income                        1,510             2,020
                                        -----------       -----------
 Total stockholders'
  equity                                    378,371           368,901
                                        -----------       -----------

Long-term debt, excluding
 current portion                            460,835           413,752
Commitments                                    --                --

Current liabilities:
 Current portion of
  long-term debt                             12,973            12,194
 Loans payable                               94,926           103,069
 Accounts payable                            21,142            24,286
 Accrued interest                            10,241             8,994
 Accrued taxes                               11,706            12,689
 Other accrued
  liabilities                                22,211            22,581
                                        -----------       -----------
 Total current
  liabilities                               173,199           183,813
                                        -----------       -----------

Deferred credits and
 other liabilities:
Deferred income taxes
 and investment tax
 credits                                    139,942           136,528
Customers' advances
 for construction                            57,621            59,494
Other                                         7,716             8,434
                                        -----------       -----------
Total deferred
 credits and other
 liabilities                                205,279           204,456
                                        -----------       -----------

Contributions in aid
 of construction                            114,656           109,883
                                        -----------       -----------
                                        $ 1,332,340       $ 1,280,805
                                        ===========       ===========



    --30--FT/ph*     DES/ph*

    CONTACT: Philadephia Suburban Corporation
             Meg Grady, Director, Investor Relations 
             610/645-1084
             www.suburbanwater.com