Citizens Communications ready for Y2K.

ELK GROVE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1999--

Citizens Communications announced it has completed the necessary Year 2000 analysis, renovation and testing of the telecommunications provider's critical and certain non-critical business and information technology systems.

"We have worked diligently and systematically to verify that our equipment will not be subject to any Y2K-related interruptions in the New Year. I am pleased to announce that we are prepared for Jan. 1, 2000," said Rick Hildebrandt, acting president of Citizens Communications. "However, we will continue to test and monitor our systems into the New Year to make sure they perform as they should."

Citizens began addressing its Y2K issues in late 1997. Using a proven four-phased approach, a dedicated team of professionals began in early 1998 to inventory and assess information technology (IT) and non-IT assets for Y2K risks, and renovate, as necessary. The IT assets included all computer systems, hardware and software on which Citizens Communications relies for doing its business. Non-IT assets included equipment or systems that may contain embedded control chips, such as network switches, transmission equipment, control and monitoring systems, building premises, facilities and general business equipment.

By June 30, 1999, all Citizens Communications' mission-critical IT and non-IT assets were essentially Y2K ready. Testing and renovation of non-critical assets are on target, with completion scheduled for Sept. 30. Testing, renovation and monitoring of Citizens internal systems will continue throughout the remainder of this year to verify there are no outstanding problems that either were not captured during the initial Y2K efforts, or that may have arisen after June 30. Risk mitigation, contingency planning and continuity testing activities will continue into next year.

"Another critical component of our Y2K efforts is being directed at our vendors," said Hildebrandt. "Because we rely on many vendors to assist us in providing services to our customers, we continue to work closely with these companies to assure that their products that we use are Y2K ready," Hildebrandt said.

More information about Citizens Communications' Y2K status is available at http://www.citizenscommunications.com, as well as in Citizens Utilities' most recent 10-Q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citizens Utilities is the parent company of Citizens Communications.

About Citizens Communications

Citizens Communications, a full-service, hometown telecommunications provider, is committed to bringing the information age to its 1 million rural and suburban customers in 13 states by offering a range of products -- from local and enhanced voice services, such as voice mail and Caller ID, to Internet access and high-speed data products. Citizens Communications also offers basic-telephone and long-distance services in all its markets and Internet, data services, cellular, cable television, paging and teleconferencing in selected markets. Citizens Communications is part of Citizens Utilities (NYSE: CZN, CZNPr), a growth company that also provides natural gas, electric, water and wastewater treatment services throughout the United States.

Citizens Utilities Company Year 2000 Legal Disclaimer

All Year 2000 statements provided are made by Citizens Utilities Company as "year 2000 readiness disclosures" under the provisions of the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 1.