Citizens Utilities Authorizes $100 Million to Purchase Citizens Shares and $25 Million to Purchase Electric Lightwave Shares.

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2000

The Board of Directors of Citizens Utilities Company (NYSE: CZN, CZNPr) announced today that it has authorized the purchase by Citizens, from time to time, of up to $100 million worth of shares of Citizens common stock and up to $25 million worth of shares of Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX), its 82%-owned subsidiary, on the open market or in negotiated transactions.

Citizens' $100 million share purchase program, announced in December 1999, was completed earlier this month and resulted in the acquisition of 6.2 million shares of its common stock.

Citizens Utilities provides telecommunications services to nearly one million customers in 13 states. In 1999, Citizens agreed to purchase approximately one million additional access lines in transactions that will begin to close in mid-2000. Citizens also owns 82% of Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX), a facilities-based, integrated communications provider that offers a broad range of services to telecommunications-intensive businesses throughout the United States. Effective May 18, 2000, Citizens Utilities will be known as Citizens Communications.

This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These and all forward-looking statements (including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current plans that are constantly under review by the company. All forward-looking statements may differ from actual results because of, but not limited to, changes in the local and overall economy, changes in market conditions for debt and equity securities, the nature and pace of technological changes, the number and effectiveness of competitors in the company's markets, success in overall strategy, changes in legal or regulatory policy, changes in legislation, the company's ability to identify future markets and successfully expand existing ones, the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets, the effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the ability to effectively integrate businesses acquired. These important factors should be considered in evaluating any statement contained herein and/or made by the company or on its behalf. The foregoing information should be read in conjunction with the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The company does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.