GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
ANNOUNCES $0.05 INITIAL MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rye, NY
August 20, 1999
NYSE - GUT
CUSIP 36240A101
For information:
David Schachter
(914) 921-5057

The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE - GUT) has declared its initial monthly distributions (to be made each month) for October, November and December 1999 at a rate of $0.05 per share.

The initial distribution will be payable on October 29, 1999 to shareholders of record on October 19, 1999. The distribution in November will be paid on November 30, 1999 to shareholders of record on November 19, 1999.

The Utility Trust was recently formed as a spin-off from The Gabelli Equity Trust with approximately $80 million in assets. The Utility Trust is a closed-end, non- diversified management investment company which seeks long-term growth of capital and income by investing primarily in utility companies involved in the distribution of electricity, gas and water.