TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/20/2006 -- Royal Utilities Income Fund (the "Fund")(TSX: RU.UN) announced today that its Board of Trustees has approved a cash distribution of $0.07917 per unit, payable on November 15, 2006, to unitholders of record as of October 31, 2006.

About Royal Utilities Income Fund

The Fund is an unincorporated, open-ended, limited purpose trust established under the laws of Alberta. The Fund indirectly holds all of the common shares of Prairie Mines and Royalty Ltd. (the "Company"), which is the largest thermal coal producer in Canada. The Company owns and operates the Paintearth, Sheerness, Genesee (50% joint venture interest), Poplar River, Boundary Dam and Bienfait mines, and operates the Highvale and Whitewood mines under contract. A total of 37 million tonnes of coal was produced by the Company in 2005.

The Company also holds a portfolio of mineral rights located in Alberta and Saskatchewan on which it earns royalties from the production of coal and potash.

The Company's revenue is derived from two principal sources: the supply of thermal coal under long-term contracts with the major electric utilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and royalty payments received from certain utility customers and other parties based on coal and potash production.