UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-Q QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY Investment Company Act file number 811-09243 The Gabelli Utility Trust (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Bruce N. Alpert Gabelli Funds, LLC One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 1-800-422-3554 Date of fiscal year end: December 31 Date of reporting period: September 30, 2008 Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (ss.ss. 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles. A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507. ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. The Schedule(s) of Investments is attached herewith. (THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST LOGO) THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST Third Quarter Report September 30, 2008 TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS, During the third quarter of 2008, The Gabelli Utility Trust's (the "Fund") total return was down 12.82% on a net asset value ("NAV") basis while the Standard & Poor's ("S&P") 500 Utilities Index was down 18.01% and the Lipper Utility Fund Average fell 20.34%. The Fund's market price on September 30, 2008 was $9.12, which equates to a 50.25% premium to its NAV of $6.07. The Fund's market price, adjusted for distributions, rose 0.06% during the third quarter of 2008. Enclosed is the investment portfolio as of September 30, 2008. COMPARATIVE RESULTS AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 (a) Since Inception Quarter 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year (07/09/99) ------- ------ ------ ------ ---------- GABELLI UTILITY TRUST NAV TOTAL RETURN (B) ........... (12.82)% (16.69)% 1.98% 8.64% 7.49% INVESTMENT TOTAL RETURN (C) .... 0.06 5.97 5.72 11.51 10.70 S&P 500 Index ...................... (8.36) (21.96) 0.22 5.17 (0.26) S&P 500 Utilities Index ............ (18.01) (14.25) 2.86 12.54 4.08 Lipper Utility Fund Average ........ (20.34) (19.81) 2.78 11.89 4.02 (a) RETURNS REPRESENT PAST PERFORMANCE AND DO NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. INVESTMENT RETURNS AND THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF AN INVESTMENT WILL FLUCTUATE. WHEN SHARES ARE SOLD, THEY MAY BE WORTH MORE OR LESS THAN THEIR ORIGINAL COST. CURRENT PERFORMANCE MAY BE LOWER OR HIGHER THAN THE PERFORMANCE DATA PRESENTED. VISIT WWW.GABELLI.COM FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AS OF THE MOST RECENT MONTH END. PERFORMANCE RETURNS FOR PERIODS OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR ARE NOT ANNUALIZED. INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES, AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND BEFORE INVESTING. THE S&P 500 INDEX IS AN UNMANAGED INDICATOR OF STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE. THE S&P 500 UTILITIES INDEX IS AN UNMANAGED INDICATOR OF ELECTRIC AND GAS UTILITY STOCK PERFORMANCE. THE LIPPER UTILITY FUND AVERAGE REFLECTS THE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE OF OPEN-END MUTUAL FUNDS CLASSIFIED IN THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY DIVIDENDS ARE CONSIDERED REINVESTED. YOU CANNOT INVEST DIRECTLY IN AN INDEX. (b) TOTAL RETURNS AND AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS REFLECT CHANGES IN THE NAV PER SHARE, REINVESTMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS AT NAV ON THE EX-DIVIDEND DATE, AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR RIGHTS OFFERINGS AND ARE NET OF EXPENSES. SINCE INCEPTION RETURN IS BASED ON AN INITIAL NAV OF $7.50. (c) TOTAL RETURNS AND AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS REFLECT CHANGES IN CLOSING MARKET VALUES ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, REINVESTMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS, AND ADJUSTMENTS FOR RIGHTS OFFERINGS. SINCE INCEPTION RETURN IS BASED ON AN INITIAL OFFERING PRICE OF $7.50. We have separated the portfolio manager's commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager's commentary is unrestricted. The financial statements and investment portfolio are mailed separately from the commentary. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com. THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 (UNAUDITED) MARKET SHARES VALUE ----------- ------------ COMMON STOCKS -- 88.2% ENERGY AND UTILITIES -- 76.7% ENERGY AND UTILITIES: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY -- 0.3% 20,000 Ormat Industries Ltd. ............................................ $ 225,486 12,500 Ormat Technologies Inc. .......................................... 454,125 ------------ 679,611 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: ELECTRIC INTEGRATED -- 45.2% 248,000 Allegheny Energy Inc. ............................................ 9,118,960 23,000 ALLETE Inc. ...................................................... 1,023,500 75,000 Alliant Energy Corp. ............................................. 2,415,750 10,000 Ameren Corp. ..................................................... 390,300 80,000 American Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................. 2,966,400 10,000 Avista Corp. ..................................................... 217,100 35,000 Black Hills Corp. ................................................ 1,087,450 30,000 Cleco Corp. ...................................................... 757,500 145,000 CMS Energy Corp. ................................................. 1,808,150 105,000 Constellation Energy Group Inc. .................................. 2,551,500 30,000 Dominion Resources Inc. .......................................... 1,283,400 160,000 DPL Inc. ......................................................... 3,968,000 24,000 DTE Energy Co. ................................................... 958,800 190,000 Duke Energy Corp. ................................................ 3,311,700 90,000 Edison International.............................................. 3,591,000 191,000 El Paso Electric Co.+............................................. 4,011,000 3,000 Entergy Corp. .................................................... 267,030 51,000 FirstEnergy Corp. ................................................ 3,416,490 137,000 Florida Public Utilities Co. ..................................... 1,767,300 90,000 FPL Group Inc. ................................................... 4,527,000 254,080 Great Plains Energy Inc. ......................................... 5,627,872 55,000 Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. ................................ 1,595,550 92,000 Integrys Energy Group Inc. ....................................... 4,594,480 61,000 Maine & Maritimes Corp.+.......................................... 2,009,950 66,000 MGE Energy Inc. .................................................. 2,346,300 48,000 NiSource Inc. .................................................... 708,480 110,900 NorthWestern Corp. ............................................... 2,786,917 100,000 OGE Energy Corp. ................................................. 3,088,000 24,000 Otter Tail Corp. ................................................. 737,520 48,000 PG&E Corp. ....................................................... 1,797,600 80,000 PNM Resources Inc. ............................................... 819,200 100,000 Progress Energy Inc. ............................................. 4,313,000 40,000 Progress Energy Inc., CVO+ (a).................................... 13,200 38,000 Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. ............................. 1,246,020 60,000 Puget Energy Inc. ................................................ 1,602,000 60,500 SCANA Corp. ...................................................... 2,355,265 35,000 Sierra Pacific Resources.......................................... 335,300 104,000 TECO Energy Inc. ................................................. 1,635,920 22,000 The Empire District Electric Co. ................................. 469,700 150,000 Unisource Energy Corp. ........................................... 4,378,500 35,000 Unitil Corp. ..................................................... 913,150 47,000 Vectren Corp. .................................................... 1,308,950 260,000 Westar Energy Inc. ............................................... 5,990,400 90,000 Wisconsin Energy Corp. ........................................... 4,041,000 195,000 Xcel Energy Inc. ................................................. 3,898,050 ------------ 108,050,654 ------------ MARKET SHARES VALUE ----------- ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION -- 7.2% 243 Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP............................. $ 3,822 50,000 CH Energy Group Inc. ............................................. 2,178,500 60,000 Consolidated Edison Inc. ......................................... 2,577,600 135,000 Northeast Utilities............................................... 3,462,750 215,000 NSTAR............................................................. 7,202,500 22,500 Pepco Holdings Inc. .............................................. 515,475 36,666 UIL Holdings Corp. ............................................... 1,258,744 ------------ 17,199,391 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: GLOBAL UTILITIES -- 3.4% 1,500 Areva SA.......................................................... 1,150,198 8,000 Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. .................................... 186,921 40,000 Electric Power Development Co. Ltd. .............................. 1,274,975 20,000 Endesa SA......................................................... 724,170 200,000 Enel SpA.......................................................... 1,658,384 300,000 Hera SpA.......................................................... 820,605 8,000 Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................. 165,484 8,000 Hokuriku Electric Power Co. ...................................... 191,434 3,500 Huaneng Power International Inc., ADR ............................ 93,170 35,000 Korea Electric Power Corp., ADR................................... 433,650 8,000 Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................... 165,484 2,000 Niko Resources Ltd. .............................................. 107,512 8,000 Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc. .................................. 200,085 8,000 The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc. .............................. 163,603 8,000 The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. ............................... 176,766 8,000 The Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................ 194,819 15,000 Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................... 320,859 ------------ 8,028,119 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: MERCHANT ENERGY -- 1.2% 35,810 Dynegy Inc., Cl. A+............................................... 128,200 8,130 Mirant Corp.+..................................................... 148,698 300,000 Mirant Corp. Escrow+ (a).......................................... 0 230,000 The AES Corp.+.................................................... 2,688,700 ------------ 2,965,598 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL GAS INTEGRATED -- 6.7% 180,000 El Paso Corp. .................................................... 2,296,800 1,000 Energen Corp. .................................................... 45,280 40,000 EnergySouth Inc. ................................................. 2,457,200 126,000 National Fuel Gas Co. ............................................ 5,314,680 100,000 ONEOK Inc. ....................................................... 3,440,000 120,000 Southern Union Co. ............................................... 2,478,000 ------------ 16,031,960 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL GAS UTILITIES -- 6.7% 26,000 AGL Resources Inc. ............................................... 815,880 50,000 Atmos Energy Corp. ............................................... 1,331,000 10,000 Chesapeake Utilities Corp. ....................................... 332,100 10,000 Corning Natural Gas Corp.+........................................ 161,000 30,000 Delta Natural Gas Co. Inc. ....................................... 768,300 See accompanying notes to schedule of investments. 2 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 (UNAUDITED) MARKET SHARES VALUE ----------- ------------ COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED) ENERGY AND UTILITIES (CONTINUED) ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL GAS UTILITIES (CONTINUED) 90,000 Nicor Inc. ....................................................... $ 3,991,500 35,000 Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc. .................................... 1,118,600 6,000 RGC Resources Inc. ............................................... 169,740 150,000 Southwest Gas Corp. .............................................. 4,539,000 120,000 Spectra Energy Corp. ............................................. 2,856,000 ------------ 16,083,120 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL RESOURCES -- 1.1% 4,000 Anadarko Petroleum Corp. ......................................... 194,040 38,000 Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA, ADR............................ 892,240 16,000 Exxon Mobil Corp. ................................................ 1,242,560 3,000 Peabody Energy Corp. ............................................. 135,000 4,000 Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR................................. 236,040 ------------ 2,699,880 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: SERVICES -- 0.4% 50,000 ABB Ltd., ADR..................................................... 970,000 9,000 Renegy Holdings Inc.+............................................. 18,900 2,000 Tenaris SA, ADR................................................... 74,580 ------------ 1,063,480 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: WATER -- 3.3% 14,000 American States Water Co. ........................................ 539,000 30,000 American Water Works Co. Inc. .................................... 645,000 21,833 Aqua America Inc. ................................................ 388,191 24,750 Artesian Resources Corp., Cl. A................................... 419,018 20,000 California Water Service Group.................................... 770,000 7,500 Connecticut Water Service Inc. ................................... 217,125 51,333 Middlesex Water Co. .............................................. 896,788 33,000 Pennichuck Corp. ................................................. 759,000 80,000 SJW Corp. ........................................................ 2,397,600 8,101 Southwest Water Co. .............................................. 103,288 12,000 Suez SA........................................................... 585,531 12,000 Suez SA, Strips+.................................................. 169 9,000 York Water Co. ................................................... 111,420 ------------ 7,832,130 ------------ DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIAL -- 1.1% 2,400 Alstom............................................................ 178,278 5,000 Bouygues SA....................................................... 223,488 8,000 Cooper Industries Ltd., Cl. A..................................... 319,600 75,000 General Electric Co. ............................................. 1,912,500 ------------ 2,633,866 ------------ EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES -- 0.1% 50,000 Capstone Turbine Corp.+........................................... 64,500 2,000 Mueller Industries Inc. .......................................... 46,020 ------------ 110,520 ------------ TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES ....................................... 183,378,329 ------------ SHARES/ MARKET UNITS VALUE ----------- ------------ COMMUNICATIONS -- 9.7% CABLE AND SATELLITE -- 3.4% 100,000 Cablevision Systems Corp., Cl. A.................................. $ 2,516,000 5,000 Cogeco Cable Inc. ................................................ 187,221 20,000 Cogeco Inc. ...................................................... 586,328 50,000 DISH Network Corp., Cl. A+........................................ 1,050,000 10,000 EchoStar Corp., Cl. A+............................................ 241,000 35,000 Liberty Global Inc., Cl. A+....................................... 1,060,500 20,000 Liberty Global Inc., Cl. C+....................................... 561,800 8,000 Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B................................. 265,920 65,000 The DIRECTV Group Inc.+........................................... 1,701,050 2,112 Zon Multimedia Servicos de Telecomunicacoes e Multimedia SGPS SA........................................................ 15,431 ------------ 8,185,250 ------------ COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT -- 0.5% 260,000 The Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. ................................... 1,109,868 3,000 QUALCOMM Inc. .................................................... 128,910 ------------ 1,238,778 ------------ TELECOMMUNICATIONS -- 3.8% 45,000 AT&T Inc. ........................................................ 1,256,400 4,350 Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund+ (a)(b)........... 108,706 30,000 BT Group plc, ADR................................................. 870,300 2,000 CenturyTel Inc. .................................................. 73,300 230,000 Cincinnati Bell Inc.+............................................. 710,700 500 Comstar United Telesystems OJSC, GDR+ ............................ 1,500 500 Comstar United Telesystems OJSC, GDR.............................. 2,500 20,000 D&E Communications Inc. .......................................... 151,000 60,000 Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR.......................................... 913,800 2,000 France Telecom SA, ADR............................................ 56,020 10,000 Frontier Communications Corp. .................................... 115,000 200 Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd.+.................. 227 500 Mobistar SA....................................................... 35,015 200 Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. ............................... 881,952 15,000 Portugal Telecom SGPS SA.......................................... 150,036 200 PT Indosat Tbk.................................................... 129 500 Rostelecom, ADR................................................... 21,770 500 Sistema JSFC, GDR................................................. 8,160 1,200 Tele2 AB, Cl. B................................................... 13,475 5,000 Telecom Italia SpA, ADR........................................... 74,600 40,000 Touch America Holdings Inc.+ (a).................................. 0 115,000 Verizon Communications Inc. ...................................... 3,690,350 ------------ 9,134,940 ------------ WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS -- 2.0% 600 America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR .............................. 27,816 2,000 China Mobile Ltd., ADR............................................ 100,160 2,000 China Unicom Ltd., ADR............................................ 30,240 3,000 Millicom International Cellular SA................................ 206,010 See accompanying notes to schedule of investments. 3 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 (UNAUDITED) MARKET SHARES VALUE ----------- ------------ COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED) COMMUNICATIONS (CONTINUED) WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS (CONTINUED) 4,500 Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, ADR ..................................... $ 252,045 171 MobileOne Ltd. ................................................... 217 1,200 NTT DoCoMo Inc. .................................................. 1,894,410 600 SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR.......................................... 11,292 200 SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. ........................ 144 12,000 Turkcell Iletisim Hizmet A/S, ADR ................................ 179,880 29,000 United States Cellular Corp.+ .................................... 1,360,680 28,000 Vimpel-Communications, ADR........................................ 568,400 ------------ 4,631,294 ------------ TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS 23,190,262 ------------ OTHER -- 1.9% AEROSPACE -- 0.2% 65,000 Rolls-Royce Group plc+ ........................................... 388,858 ------------ AGRICULTURE -- 0.0% 2,000 Cadiz Inc.+....................................................... 38,140 ------------ AUTOMOTIVE: PARTS AND ACCESSORIES -- 0.0% 1,000 BERU AG .......................................................... 105,585 ------------ ENTERTAINMENT -- 1.4% 90,000 Time Warner Inc. ................................................. 1,179,900 65,000 Vivendi .......................................................... 2,014,979 ------------ 3,194,879 PUBLISHING -- 0.0% ------------ 8,000 Idearc Inc. ...................................................... 10,000 ------------ REAL ESTATE -- 0.1% 6,075 Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Cl. A .......................... 166,698 ------------ TRANSPORTATION -- 0.2% 12,000 GATX Corp. ....................................................... 474,840 ------------ TOTAL OTHER ...................................................... 4,379,000 ------------ TOTAL COMMON STOCKS .............................................. 210,947,591 ------------ CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS -- 1.6% ENERGY AND UTILITIES -- 0.9% ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL GAS INTEGRATED -- 0.9% 2,000 El Paso Corp., 4.990% Cv. Pfd. (b)................................ 2,109,396 ------------ COMMUNICATIONS -- 0.7% TELECOMMUNICATIONS -- 0.7% 30,000 Citizens Utilities Trust, 5.000% Cv. Pfd. ........................ 1,785,000 ------------ TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS .............................................. 3,894,396 ------------ PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ----------- CORPORATE BONDS -- 0.0% COMMUNICATIONS -- 0.0% TELECOMMUNICATIONS -- 0.0% $ 100,000 Williams Communications Group Inc., Escrow, 10.875%, 10/01/09+ (a) ................................ 0 ------------ MARKET SHARES VALUE ----------- ------------ RIGHTS -- 0.0% ENERGY AND UTILITIES -- 0.0% ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES -- 0.0% 12,000 Suez Environnement SA+ ........................................... $ 75,852 ------------ WARRANTS -- 0.1% ENERGY AND UTILITIES -- 0.0% ENERGY AND UTILITIES: MERCHANT ENERGY -- 0.0% 26,107 Mirant Corp., Ser. A, expire 01/03/11+ ........................... 104,428 ------------ ENERGY AND UTILITIES: NATURAL GAS UTILITIES -- 0.0% 3,000 Corning Natural Gas Corp., expire 08/17/11+ ...................... 4,650 ------------ TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES ....................................... 109,078 ------------ COMMUNICATIONS -- 0.1% WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS -- 0.1% 2,000 Bharti Airtel Ltd., expire 10/28/08+ (b) ......................... 33,420 6,000 Bharti Airtel Ltd., expire 12/15/16+ (b) ......................... 111,931 ------------ 145,351 ------------ TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS ............................................. 145,351 ------------ TOTAL WARRANTS ................................................... 254,429 ------------ PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ----------- U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS -- 10.0% U.S. TREASURY BILLS -- 6.1% $14,261,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.118% to 1.924%++, 10/02/08 to 01/29/09 .......................................... 14,602,628 ------------ U.S. TREASURY NOTES -- 3.9% 9,025,000 4.500%, 04/30/09............................................... 9,173,777 200,000 4.750%, 12/31/08............................................... 201,922 ------------ 9,375,699 ------------ TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS ................................ 23,978,327 ------------ TOTAL INVESTMENTS -- 100.0% (Cost $222,672,958).......................................................... $239,150,595 ============ Aggregate book cost..................................................... $222,672,958 ============ Gross unrealized appreciation........................................ $ 29,150,153 Gross unrealized depreciation........................................ (12,672,516) ------------ Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) .......................... $ 16,477,637 ============ ---------- (a) Security fair valued under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The procedures may include reviewing available financial information about the company and reviewing the valuation of comparable securities and other factors on a regular basis. At September 30, 2008, the market value of fair valued securities amounted to $121,906 or 0.05% of total investments. (b) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At September 30, 2008, the market value of Rule 144A securities amounted to $2,363,453 or 0.99% of total investments. + Non-income producing security. ++ Represents annualized yield at date of purchase. ADR American Depositary Receipt CVO Contingent Value Obligation GDR Global Depositary Receipt See accompanying notes to schedule of investments. 4 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) 1. SECURITY VALUATION. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market's official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (the "Board") so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC, the Adviser. Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities' fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than 60 days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. Futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable contract is traded. Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. On January 1, 2008, the Fund adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("SFAS 157") that clarifies the definition of fair value for financial reporting, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires additional disclosures about the use of fair value measurements. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under SFAS 157 are described below: - Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; - Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and - Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's determinations as to the fair value of investments). The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of inputs used to value the Fund's net assets as of September 30, 2008 is as follows: OTHER FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS SECURITIES (UNREALIZED VALUATION INPUTS (MARKET VALUE) DEPRECIATION)* ---------------- -------------- --------------- Level 1 - Quoted Prices $215,159,068 -- Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs 23,978,327 $(281,722) Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs 13,200 -- ------------ --------- Total $239,150,595 $(281,722) ============ ========= ---------- * Other financial instruments are derivative instruments not reflected in the Schedule of Investments, such as futures, forwards, and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the investment. 5 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) (UNAUDITED) The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value: INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES (MARKET VALUE) -------------- BALANCE AS OF 12/31/07 $13,200 Accrued discounts/(premiums) -- Realized gain/(loss) -- Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) 0 Net purchases/(sales) -- Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 -- ------- BALANCE AS OF 09/30/08 $13,200 ======= In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS 161") that is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. SFAS 161 is intended to improve financial reporting for derivative instruments by requiring enhanced disclosure that enables investors to understand how and why an entity uses derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect an entity's results of operations and financial position. Management is currently evaluating the implications of SFAS 161 on the Fund's financial statement disclosures. 2. SWAP AGREEMENTS. The Fund may enter into equity, contract for differences, and interest rate swap or cap transactions. The use of swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio transactions. In an interest rate swap, the Fund would agree to pay to the other party to the interest rate swap (which is known as the "counterparty") periodically a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay to the Fund periodically a variable rate payment that is intended to approximate the Fund's variable rate payment obligation on Series B Preferred Shares. In an interest rate cap, the Fund would pay a premium to the counterparty and, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, would receive from that counterparty payments of the difference based on the notional amount of such cap. In an equity swap, a set of future cash flows are exchanged between two counterparties. One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Swap and cap transactions introduce additional risk because the Fund would remain obligated to pay preferred stock dividends when due in accordance with the Statement of Preferences even if the counterparty defaulted. If there is a default by the counterparty to a swap contract, the Fund will be limited to contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. There is no assurance that the swap contract counterparties will be able to meet their obligations pursuant to a swap contract or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in pursuing contractual remedies. The Fund thus assumes the risk that it may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments owed to it pursuant to a swap contract. The creditworthiness of the swap contract counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize this risk. Depending on the general state of short-term interest rates and the returns on the Fund's portfolio securities at that point in time, such a default could negatively affect the Fund's ability to make dividend payments. In addition, at the time a swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. 6 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) (UNAUDITED) The use of derivative instruments may involve, to varying degrees, elements of market and counterparty risk in excess of the amount recognized below. The Fund has entered into an interest rate swap agreement with Citibank N.A. Under the agreement, the Fund receives a floating rate of interest and pays a respective fixed rate of interest on the nominal value of the swap. Details of the swap at September 30, 2008 are as follows: NET NOTIONAL FLOATING RATE* TERMINATION UNREALIZED AMOUNT FIXED RATE (RATE RESET MONTHLY) DATE DEPRECIATION ----------- ---------- -------------------- ----------- ------------ $25,000,000 4.00% 2.48563% 06/02/10 $(250,699) * Based on LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate). The Fund has entered into a contract for difference swap agreement with Bear, Stearns International Limited. Details of the swap at September 30, 2008 are as follows: NOTIONAL EQUITY SECURITY INTEREST RATE/ TERMINATION NET UNREALIZED AMOUNT RECEIVED EQUITY SECURITY PAID DATE DEPRECIATION ------------------------ --------------------- ------------------------ ----------- -------------- Overnight LIBOR plus Market Value 40 bps plus Market Value Appreciation on: Depreciation on: $239,994 (35,000 Shares) Rolls-Royce Group plc Rolls-Royce Group plc 10/15/08 $(31,023) 7 AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS ENROLLMENT IN THE PLAN It is the policy of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the "Fund") to automatically reinvest dividends payable to common shareholders. As a "registered" shareholder you automatically become a participant in the Fund's Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan authorizes the Fund to credit common shares to participants upon an income dividend or a capital gains distribution regardless of whether the shares are trading at a discount or a premium to net asset value. All distributions to shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Plan participants may send their share certificates to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. ("Computershare") to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distributions in cash must submit this request in writing to: The Gabelli Utility Trust c/o Computershare P.O. Box 43010 Providence, RI 02940-3010 Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder's name and address as they appear on the share certificate. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan may contact Computershare at (800) 336-6983. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or nominee, you should contact such institution. If such institution is not participating in the Plan, your account will be credited with a cash dividend. In order to participate in the Plan through such institution, it may be necessary for you to have your shares taken out of "street name" and re-registered in your own name. Once registered in your own name your distributions will be automatically reinvested. Certain brokers participate in the Plan. Shareholders holding shares in "street name" at participating institutions will have dividends automatically reinvested. Shareholders wishing a cash dividend at such institution must contact their broker to make this change. The number of common shares distributed to participants in the Plan in lieu of cash dividends is determined in the following manner. Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Fund's common shares is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of shares equivalent to the cash dividends or capital gains distribution, participants are issued common shares valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then current market price of the Fund's common shares. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading day, the next trading day. If the net asset value of the common shares at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common shares, participants will receive common shares from the Fund valued at market price. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, Computershare will buy common shares in the open market, or on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants' accounts, except that Computershare will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue shares at net asset value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the common shares exceeds the then current net asset value. The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such distributions. A participant in the Plan will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received, on a dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash the participant could have received instead of shares. 8 VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLAN The Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is yet another vehicle for our shareholders to increase their investment in the Fund. In order to participate in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, shareholders must have their shares registered in their own name. Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to Computershare for investments in the Fund's common shares at the then current market price. Shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. Computershare will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. Computershare will charge each shareholder who participates $0.75, plus a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to Computershare, P.O. Box 43010, Providence, RI 02940-3010 such that Computershare receives such payments approximately 10 days before the 1st and 15th of the month. Funds not received at least five days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by Computershare at least 48 hours before such payment is to be invested. SHAREHOLDERS WISHING TO LIQUIDATE SHARES HELD AT COMPUTERSHARE must do so in writing or by telephone. Please submit your request to the above mentioned address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. The cost to liquidate shares is $2.50 per transaction as well as the brokerage commission incurred. Brokerage charges are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. For more information regarding the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, brochures are available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by Computershare on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan. 9 THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST AND YOUR PERSONAL PRIVACY WHO ARE WE? The Gabelli Utility Trust (the "Fund") is a closed-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, which is affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory or brokerage services for a variety of clients. WHAT KIND OF NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU IF YOU BECOME A SHAREHOLDER? When you purchase shares of the Fund on the New York Stock Exchange, you have the option of registering directly with our transfer agent in order, for example, to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan. - INFORMATION YOU GIVE US ON YOUR APPLICATION FORM. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information. - INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR TRANSACTIONS WITH US. This would include information about the shares that you buy or sell; it may also include information about whether you sell or exercise rights that we have issued from time to time. If we hire someone else to provide services--like a transfer agent--we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE DISCLOSE AND TO WHOM DO WE DISCLOSE IT? We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, WWW.SEC.GOV. WHAT DO WE DO TO PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the Fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential. TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST ONE CORPORATE CENTER, RYE, NY 10580-1422 TRUSTEES Mario J. Gabelli, CFA CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GAMCO INVESTORS, INC. Dr. Thomas E. Bratter PRESIDENT & FOUNDER, JOHN DEWEY ACADEMY Anthony J. Colavita ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, ANTHONY J. COLAVITA, P.C. James P. Conn FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD. Vincent D. Enright FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, KEYSPAN CORP. Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN GAMING ASSOCIATION John D. Gabelli SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GABELLI & COMPANY, INC. Robert J. Morrissey ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, MORRISSEY, HAWKINS & LYNCH Anthony R. Pustorino CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, PACE UNIVERSITY Salvatore J. Zizza CHAIRMAN, ZIZZA & CO., LTD. OFFICERS Bruce N. Alpert PRESIDENT Peter D. Goldstein CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER Agnes Mullady TREASURER AND SECRETARY David I. Schachter VICE PRESIDENT & OMBUDSMAN INVESTMENT ADVISER Gabelli Funds, LLC One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 CUSTODIAN The Bank of New York Mellon COUNSEL Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR Computershare Trust Company, N.A. STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING 5.625% Common Preferred ---------- --------- NYSE-Symbol: GUT GUT PrA Shares Outstanding: 30,288,610 1,183,600 The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading "Specialized Equity Funds," in Monday's The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron's Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading "Specialized Equity Funds." The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com. For general information about the Gabelli Funds, call 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554), fax us at 914-921-5118, visit Gabelli Funds' Internet homepage at: WWW.GABELLI.COM, or e-mail us at: closedend@gabelli.com Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may, from time to time, purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund's shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value. (GRAPHIC) THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST ONE CORPORATE CENTER RYE, NY 10580-1422 (914) 921-5070 WWW.GABELLI.COM THIRD QUARTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 GUT Q3/2008 ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. ITEM 3. EXHIBITS. Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. (Registrant) The Gabelli Utility Trust -------------------------------------------------------------------- By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert ------------------------------------------------------- Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer Date November 24, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert ------------------------------------------------------- Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer Date November 24, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Agnes Mullady ------------------------------------------------------- Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer Date November 24, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.