5. Public Interest

The applicants state that the proposed transaction will produce a corporate structure that can more efficiently bring new products and services to Working Assets' customers by allowing each subsidiary to pursue its own business plan in a more efficient and less costly manner. In addition, applicants state that this transaction will protect Working Assets' long distance ratepayers from financial risk associated with other subsidiaries' new products and new ventures, and will potentially advance the financial well being of Working Assets' shareholders and other stakeholders, but will not impact Working Assets' customers, who will be unaffected by this internal corporate restructuring.