Gabelli Utility Trust

N-CSR 1 d657028dncsr.htm GABELLI UTILITY TRUST Gabelli Utility Trust

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

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: December 31, 2018

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR 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 Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Annual Report — December 31, 2018

To Our Shareholders,

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the net asset value (NAV) total return of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the Fund) was (5.0)%. The total return for the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Utilities Index was 4.1%. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was (4.8)%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $4.61, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $5.94 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2018.

Comparative Results


Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2018 (a) (Unaudited)														Since
	1 Year			5 Year			10 Year			15 Year			Inception (07/09/99)
Gabelli Utility Trust
NAV Total Return (b)		(5.02	)%		5.42	%		10.81	%		8.56	%		8.31	%
Investment Total Return (c)		(4.76	)		9.09			10.78			6.53			8.33
S&P 500 Utilities Index		4.11			10.74			10.46			9.73			6.59
Lipper Utility Fund Average		2.38			6.69			10.08			9.18			6.12
S&P 500 Index		(4.38	)		8.49			13.12			7.77			5.02

(a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. The Fund’s use of leverage may magnify the volatility of net asset value changes versus funds that do not employ leverage. 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. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of large capitalization stocks that may include facilities generation and transmission or distribution of electricity, gas, or water. The Lipper Utility Fund Average reflects the average performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged indicator of stock market performance. 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 NYSE, reinvestment of distributions, and adjustments for rights offerings. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $7.50.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.gabelli.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report. If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. To elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge, please contact your financial intermediary, or, if you invest directly with the Fund, you may call 800-422-3554 or send an email request to info@gabelli.com.

Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of December 31, 2018:

The Gabelli Utility Trust


Electric Integrated	41.8	%
U.S. Government Obligations	16.2	%
Natural Gas Utilities	5.6	%
Natural Gas Integrated	5.5	%
Water	4.9	%
Telecommunications	4.6	%
Wireless Communications	4.5	%
Cable and Satellite	3.7	%
Global Utilities	2.6	%
Natural Resources	1.7	%
Electric Transmission and Distribution	1.7	%
Merchant Energy	1.4	%
Financial Services	1.3	%
Services	1.1	%
Entertainment	0.6	%


Transportation	0.5	%
Alternative Energy	0.4	%
Machinery	0.4	%
Environmental Services	0.4	%
Aerospace	0.3	%
Diversified Industrial	0.3	%
Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders	0.2	%
Communications Equipment	0.1	%
Electronics	0.1	%
Equipment and Supplies	0.1	%
Agriculture	0.0	%*

	100.0	%

*	Amount represents less than 0.05%.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554). The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2018


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		COMMON STOCKS — 83.8%
		ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 67.7%
		Alternative Energy — 0.4%
	20,000	NextEra Energy Partners LP	$	426,762	$	861,000
	10,445	Ormat Technologies Inc., New York		231,654		546,273
	1,555	Ormat Technologies Inc., Tel Aviv		68,688		82,144
				727,104		1,489,417

		Electric Integrated — 41.8%
	22,000	ALLETE Inc.		996,952		1,676,840
	125,000	Alliant Energy Corp.		4,048,028		5,281,250
	17,000	Ameren Corp.		560,038		1,108,910
	72,000	American Electric Power Co. Inc.		4,801,405		5,381,280
	40,000	Avangrid Inc.		1,096,186		2,003,600
	20,000	Avista Corp.		895,939		849,600
	40,000	Black Hills Corp.		1,979,836		2,511,200
	91,000	CMS Energy Corp.		2,904,912		4,518,150
	24,000	Dominion Energy Inc.		1,357,537		1,715,040
	16,400	DTE Energy Co.		1,066,074		1,808,920
	74,000	Duke Energy Corp.		6,476,644		6,386,200
	80,000	Edison International		5,005,371		4,541,600
	185,500	El Paso Electric Co.		7,997,039		9,299,115
	1,000	Emera Inc.		21,639		32,017
	3,000	Entergy Corp.		75,249		258,210
	138,500	Evergy Inc.		7,737,851		7,862,645
	165,000	Eversource Energy		10,439,546		10,731,600
	67,000	FirstEnergy Corp.		2,746,848		2,515,850
	62,000	Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.		2,023,223		2,270,440
	83,500	MGE Energy Inc.		3,994,010		5,006,660
	56,500	NextEra Energy Inc.		6,979,900		9,820,830
	48,000	NiSource Inc.		397,800		1,216,800
	72,000	NorthWestern Corp.		3,368,258		4,279,680
	185,000	OGE Energy Corp.		6,005,835		7,250,150
	48,000	Otter Tail Corp.		1,298,816		2,382,720
	48,000	PG&E Corp.†		1,280,160		1,140,000
	84,200	PNM Resources Inc.		1,807,587		3,459,778
	30,000	Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.		794,829		1,561,500
	36,284	SCANA Corp.		1,925,361		1,733,650
	17,000	Unitil Corp.		448,439		860,880
	240,000	Vectren Corp.		17,167,861		17,275,200
	140,000	WEC Energy Group Inc.		8,831,829		9,696,400
	160,000	Xcel Energy Inc.		7,778,452		7,883,200
				124,309,454		144,319,915

		Electric Transmission and Distribution — 1.7%
	40,000	Consolidated Edison Inc.		2,459,996		3,058,400
	65,100	Exelon Corp.		1,889,987		2,936,010
				4,349,983		5,994,410


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		Global Utilities — 2.6%
	8,000	Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.	$	189,551	$	114,046
	133,000	Electric Power Development Co. Ltd.		3,799,231		3,162,246
	30,000	Endesa SA		882,970		691,919
	300,000	Enel SpA		1,862,753		1,733,750
	494,900	Hera SpA		766,919		1,509,440
	15,000	Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc.		213,947		104,010
	12,000	Hokuriku Electric Power Co.†		180,000		104,995
	3,000	Huaneng Power International Inc., ADR		81,590		75,030
	41,000	Korea Electric Power Corp., ADR		630,569		604,750
	15,000	Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc.		202,018		179,143
	8,000	Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc.		155,987		96,930
	8,000	The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc.		150,761		104,229
	20,000	The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.		277,615		301,081
	13,000	Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc.		172,497		171,981
				9,566,408		8,953,550

		Merchant Energy — 1.4%
	300,000	GenOn Energy Inc., Escrow†(a)		0		0
	323,500	The AES Corp.(b)		3,319,315		4,677,810
				3,319,315		4,677,810

		Natural Gas Integrated — 5.5%
	4,000	Devon Energy Corp.		137,941		90,160
	120,000	Energy Transfer LP		1,941,810		1,585,200
	90,000	Kinder Morgan Inc.		2,656,349		1,384,200
	136,000	National Fuel Gas Co.		4,900,475		6,960,480
	165,000	ONEOK Inc.		7,873,734		8,901,750
				17,510,309		18,921,790

		Natural Gas Utilities — 5.6%
	25,000	Atmos Energy Corp.		1,967,354		2,318,000
	24,800	Chesapeake Utilities Corp.		1,301,443		2,016,240
	30,262	Corning Natural Gas Holding Corp		284,301		563,630
	15,500	Engie		457,035		222,433
	72,066	National Grid plc, ADR		5,315,686		3,457,727
	42,000	ONE Gas Inc.		1,131,062		3,343,200
	18,000	RGC Resources Inc.		128,344		539,280
	90,000	Southwest Gas Holdings Inc.		6,344,915		6,885,000
	2,000	Spire Inc.		78,350		148,160
				17,008,490		19,493,670

		Natural Resources — 1.7%
	6,500	Anadarko Petroleum Corp.		337,890		284,960
	3,000	Apache Corp.		136,597		78,750
	25,000	California Resources Corp.†		366,765		426,000
	55,000	Cameco Corp.		550,205		624,250
	25,000	CNX Resources Corp.†		338,606		285,500

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2018


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
		ENERGY AND UTILITIES (Continued)
		Natural Resources (Continued)
	32,000	Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR	$	360,262	$	519,040
	3,125	CONSOL Energy Inc.†		64,496		99,094
	50,000	Exxon Mobil Corp.		3,761,708		3,409,500
	3,000	Hess Corp.		178,260		121,500
	3,000	Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR		161,320		174,810
				6,256,109		6,023,404

		Services — 1.1%
	20,000	ABB Ltd., ADR		401,189		380,200
	100,000	Enbridge Inc.		2,781,674		3,108,000
	13,000	Sunoco LP		370,120		353,470
	65,000	Weatherford International plc†		415,606		36,335
				3,968,589		3,878,005

		Water — 4.9%
	27,000	American States Water Co.		1,326,417		1,810,080
	25,000	American Water Works Co. Inc.		1,960,960		2,269,250
	27,291	Aqua America Inc.		221,006		933,079
	24,000	Artesian Resources Corp., Cl. A		397,537		836,880
	34,000	California Water Service Group		609,354		1,620,440
	48,000	Middlesex Water Co.		753,554		2,560,800
	163,000	Severn Trent plc		4,354,046		3,771,879
	50,000	SJW Group		1,763,798		2,781,000
	9,000	The York Water Co.		108,269		288,540
				11,494,941		16,871,948

		Diversified Industrial — 0.3%
	2,000	Alstom SA		52,460		80,821
	2,000	AZZ Inc.		75,347		80,720
	3,800	Bouygues SA		126,830		136,450
	90,000	General Electric Co.		1,120,800		681,300
				1,375,437		979,291

		Environmental Services — 0.4%
	60,000	Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.†		948,428		576,000
	3,000	Suez		0		39,632
	30,000	Veolia Environnement SA		487,553		617,159
				1,435,981		1,232,791

		Equipment and Supplies — 0.1%
	2,500	Capstone Turbine Corp.†		3,441		1,497
	12,000	Mueller Industries Inc.		314,742		280,320
				318,183		281,817

		Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 0.2%
	20,000	NRG Energy Inc.		483,310		792,000

		TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES		202,123,613		233,909,818


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		COMMUNICATIONS — 12.9%
		Cable and Satellite — 3.7%
	3,000	Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†	$	598,964	$	854,910
	20,000	Cogeco Inc.		389,461		853,208
	64,500	DISH Network Corp., Cl. A†		3,242,589		1,610,565
	10,000	EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†		280,860		367,200
	250,000	ITV plc		590,174		397,834
	42,421	Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†		824,785		905,264
	108,771	Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†		3,158,918		2,245,033
	10,000	Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. A†		210,217		144,800
	25,000	Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. C†		623,534		364,250
	8,000	Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B		119,139		410,080
	100,000	Telenet Group Holding NV		4,764,141		4,651,749
				14,802,782		12,804,893

		Communications Equipment — 0.1%
	20,000	Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.		925,919		503,992

		Telecommunications — 4.6%
	75,000	AT&T Inc.		2,418,368		2,140,500
	4,000	BCE Inc., New York		167,133		158,120
	4,047	BCE Inc., Toronto		171,196		159,870
	20,000	BT Group plc, ADR		313,502		304,000
	90,000	CenturyLink Inc.		2,051,379		1,363,500
	75,827	Cincinnati Bell Inc.†		1,294,959		589,934
	5,000	Cogeco Communications Inc.		105,008		240,917
	43,000	Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR		678,352		730,140
	59,000	Global Telecom Holding SAE†		53,385		12,255
	200	Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.		19		75
	40,038	Internap Corp.†		384,451		166,158
	35,000	Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp		813,435		1,431,230
	1,000	Orange Belgium SA		14,151		19,753
	2,000	Orange SA, ADR		22,799		32,380
	11,800	Orascom Investment Holding, GDR†		20,761		1,593
	30,000	Pharol SGPS SA†		8,930		5,610
	4,000	Proximus SA		91,346		108,251
	2,000	PT Indosat Tbk		1,061		234
	105,000	Sistema PJSC FC, GDR		586,988		243,600
	1,350	Tele2 AB, Cl. B		15,470		17,204
	10,000	Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG		52,947		39,162
	85,000	Telekom Austria AG		712,797		646,662
	1,200	Telesites SAB de CV†		911		714
	20,000	T-Mobile US Inc.†		573,143		1,272,200
	110,000	VEON Ltd., ADR		678,230		257,400
	105,000	Verizon Communications Inc.		4,378,801		5,903,100
				15,609,522		15,844,562

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2018


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		COMMON STOCKS (Continued)
		COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)
		Wireless Communications — 4.5%
	2,500	America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR	$	26,571	$	35,625
	2,000	China Mobile Ltd., ADR		33,988		96,000
	2,000	China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., ADR		16,278		21,320
	171	M1 Ltd.		210		262
	85,000	Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR		5,382,769		5,385,058
	1,154	Mobile Telesystems PJSC		6,303		3,942
	11,250	Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR		175,074		78,750
	100,000	NTT DoCoMo Inc.		1,438,659		2,255,828
	2,000	SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR		32,986		53,600
	400	SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.		207		443
	60,000	Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR		518,686		337,200
	49,000	United States Cellular Corp.†		2,390,748		2,546,530
	240,000	Vodafone Group plc, ADR		6,560,853		4,627,200
				16,583,332		15,441,758

		TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS		47,921,555		44,595,205


		OTHER — 3.2%
		Aerospace — 0.3%
	100,000	Rolls-Royce Holdings plc†		809,939		1,057,918
	4,600,000	Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C†(a)		5,927		5,863
				815,866		1,063,781

		Agriculture — 0.0%
	3,000	Cadiz Inc.†		30,211		30,900

		Electronics — 0.1%
	10,000	Sony Corp., ADR		464,660		482,800

		Entertainment — 0.6%
	80,000	Vivendi SA		1,988,748		1,950,526

		Financial Services — 1.3%
	50,000	GAM Holding AG		157,102		196,154
	22,000	Kinnevik AB, Cl. A		695,776		523,753
	70,000	Kinnevik AB, Cl. B		2,631,364		1,687,813
	14,000	The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.		1,997,967		1,998,360
				5,482,209		4,406,080

		Machinery — 0.4%
	150,000	CNH Industrial NV		1,830,105		1,381,500


Shares			Cost		Market Value
		Transportation — 0.5%
	25,000	GATX Corp.	$	1,016,220	$	1,770,250

		TOTAL OTHER		11,628,019		11,085,837

		TOTAL COMMON STOCKS		261,673,187		289,590,860

		CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.0%
		ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 0.0%
		Natural Gas Utilities — 0.0%
	4,203	Corning Natural Gas Holding Corp., 4.800%, Ser. B		87,212		92,256

		WARRANTS — 0.0%
		COMMUNICATIONS — 0.0%
		Telecommunications — 0.0%
	16,000	Bharti Airtel Ltd., expire 11/30/20†(c)		87,613		71,680

Principal Amount
		CORPORATE BONDS — 0.0%
		Equipment and Supplies — 0.0%
	$ 30,000	Mueller Industries Inc., 6.000%, 03/01/27		30,000		28,050

		U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 16.2%
	56,183,000	U.S. Treasury Bills, 2.151% to 2.496%††, 01/03/19 to 05/16/19(d)		55,945,919		55,945,998

	TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%		$	317,823,931		345,728,844

	Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)					2,720,136

	PREFERRED STOCK (3,154,188 preferred shares outstanding)					(101,332,200	)


	NET ASSETS — COMMON STOCK (53,600,865 common shares outstanding)				$	247,116,780


	NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE ($247,116,780 ÷ 53,600,865 shares outstanding)				$	4.61

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2018

(a)	Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(b)	Securities, or a portion thereof, with a value of $1,807,500 are reserved and/or pledged with the custodian for current or potential holdings of swaps.

(c)

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2018, the market value of the Rule 144A security amounted to $71,680 or 0.02% of total investments.

(d)	At December 31, 2018, $500,000 of the principal amount was pledged as collateral for equity contract for difference swap agreements.

†	Non-income producing security.

††	Represents annualized yields at dates of purchase.

ADR	American Depositary Receipt

GDR	Global Depositary Receipt

SDR	Swedish Depositary Receipt

As of December 31, 2018, equity contract for difference swap agreements outstanding were as follows:

One Month LIBOR

Plus 90 bps

Upfront

Market Value

plus Market Value

Payment

Termination

Notional

Payments/

Unrealized

Appreciation Received

Depreciation Paid

Counterparty

Frequency

Date

Amount

Value

Receipts

Appreciation

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

1 month

06/28/2019

$1,020,251

$37,249

—

$37,249

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

1 month

06/28/2019

5,810

—

TOTAL EQUITY CONTRACT FOR DIFFERENCE SWAP AGREEMENT

$37,302

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust


Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2018
Assets:
Investments, at value (cost $317,823,931)			$345,728,844
Cash			2,144,200
Receivable for investments sold			2,080,860
Dividends and interest receivable			704,130
Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts			37,302
Deferred offering expense			21,995
Prepaid expenses			2,615

Total Assets			350,719,946

Liabilities:
Foreign currency overdraft, at value (cost $17,233)			17,647
Distributions payable			76,762
Payable for investments purchased			1,516,491
Payable for investment advisory fees			260,334
Payable for rights offering expenses			26,959
Payable for payroll expenses			43,569
Payable for accounting fees			7,500
Payable for auction agent fees (a)			199,836
Other accrued expenses			121,868

Total Liabilities.			2,270,966

Cumulative Preferred Shares, $0.001 par value:
Series A Preferred Shares (5.625%, $25 liquidation value, 1,200,000 shares authorized with 1,153,288 shares issued and outstanding)			28,832,200
Series B Preferred Shares (Auction Market, $25,000 liquidation value, 1,000 shares authorized with 900 shares issued and outstanding)			22,500,000
Series C Preferred Shares (5.375%, $25 liquidation value, 2,000,000 shares authorized and outstanding)			50,000,000

Total Preferred Shares			101,332,200

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders			$247,116,780

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Consist of:
Paid-in capital			$220,050,406
Total distributable earnings(b)			27,066,374

Net Assets			$247,116,780

Net Asset Value per Common Share:
($247,116,780 ÷ 53,600,865 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized)			$4.61

(a)	This amount represents auction agent fees accrued for earlier fiscal periods, and not for the period covered by this report.

(b)	Effective December 31, 2018, the Fund has adopted disclosure requirements conforming to SEC Rule 6-04.17 of Regulation S-X and discloses total distributable earnings. See Note 2 for further details.


Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Investment Income:
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $289,117)	$	9,047,436
Interest		1,107,497

Total Investment Income		10,154,933

Expenses:
Investment advisory fees		3,477,364
Shareholder communications expenses		188,986
Trustees’ fees		128,437
Shareholder services fees		124,878
Payroll expenses		110,746
Shelf registration expense		107,122
Legal and audit fees		85,150
Custodian fees		53,941
Accounting fees		45,000
Interest expense		283
Miscellaneous expenses		150,398

Total Expenses		4,472,305

Less:
Advisory fee reduction (See Note 3)		(513,321	)
Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 3)		(3,149	)
Custodian fee credits		(729	)

Total Credits and Reductions		(517,199	)

Net Expenses		3,955,106

Net Investment Income		6,199,827

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency:
Net realized gain on investments		28,091,041
Net realized loss on swap contracts		(121,123	)
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions		(12,157	)

Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions		27,957,761

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:
on investments		(39,766,127	)
on swap contracts		884
on foreign currency translations		(4,201	)

Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations		(39,769,444	)

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency		(11,811,683	)

Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations		(5,611,856	)

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders		(5,084,180	)

Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations	$	(10,696,036	)

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders


	Year Ended				Year Ended
	December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
Operations:
Net investment income		$	6,199,827			$	4,906,672
Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions			27,957,761				26,093,689
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations			(39,769,444	)			(5,542,315	)

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations			(5,611,856	)			25,458,046

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders(a)			(5,084,180	)			(4,882,060	)*
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations			(10,696,036	)			20,575,986


Distributions to Common Shareholders:
Accumulated earnings			(28,867,423	)			(25,849,767	)**
Return of capital			(821,376	)			(359,104	)

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders(a)			(29,688,799	)			(26,208,871	)


Fund Share Transactions:
Net increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions.			4,451,844				3,956,071
Net increase from common shares issued in rights offering			48,571,655				—
Offering costs and adjustments for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital			(354,500	)			11,000

Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions			52,668,999				3,967,071

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders			12,284,164				(1,665,814	)

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders:
Beginning of year			234,832,616				236,498,430

End of year		$	247,116,780			$	234,832,616

(a)	Effective December 31, 2018, the Fund has adopted disclosure requirements conforming to SEC Rule 6-04.17 of Regulation S-X. See Note 2 for further details.

*	For the year ended December 31, 2017, the distributions to Preferred shareholders from net investment income and net realized gain were $824,676 and $4,057,384, respectively.

**	For the year ended December 31, 2017, the distributions to Common shareholders from net investment income and net realized gain were $4,366,533 and $21,483,234, respectively.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Financial Highlights

Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2018				2017				2016				2015				2014
Operating Performance:
Net asset value, beginning of year		$	5.34			$	5.45			$	5.13			$	6.16			$	5.98

Net investment income			0.12				0.11				0.11				0.13				0.13
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions			(0.27	)			0.48				0.92				(0.53	)			0.69

Total from investment operations			(0.15	)			0.59				1.03				(0.40	)			0.82

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a)
Net investment income			(0.02	)			(0.02	)			(0.01	)			(0.01	)			(0.01	)
Net realized gain			(0.08	)			(0.09	)			(0.07	)			(0.03	)			(0.04	)

Total distributions to preferred shareholders			(0.10	)			(0.11	)			(0.08	)			(0.04	)			(0.05	)

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations			(0.25	)			0.48				0.95				(0.44	)			0.77

Distributions to Common Shareholders:
Net investment income			(0.10	)			(0.10	)			(0.09	)			(0.11	)			(0.11	)
Net realized gain			(0.48	)			(0.49	)			(0.48	)			(0.27	)			(0.40	)
Return of capital			(0.02	)			(0.01	)			(0.03	)			(0.22	)			(0.09	)

Total distributions to common shareholders			(0.60	)			(0.60	)			(0.60	)			(0.60	)			(0.60	)

Fund Share Transactions:
Increase in net asset value from common share transactions			—				0.01				0.01				0.01				0.01
Increase in net asset value from common shares issued in rights offering			0.12				—				—				—				—
Increase in net asset value from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions			0.01				—				—				—				—
Offering costs and adjustments to offering costs for preferred shares charged or credited to paid-in capital			(0.01	)			0.00	(b)			(0.04	)			—				—

Total Fund share transactions			0.12				0.01				(0.03	)			0.01				0.01

Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Year		$	4.61			$	5.34			$	5.45			$	5.13			$	6.16

NAV total return†			(5.02	)%			9.27	%			18.62	%			(7.12	)%			13.87	%

Market value, end of year		$	5.94			$	7.10			$	6.30			$	5.70			$	7.32

Investment total return††			(4.76	)%			23.48	%			22.08	%			(14.15	)%			25.32	%

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:
Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of year (in 000’s)			$348,449				$336,165				$337,831				$270,508				$311,044
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of year (in 000’s)			$247,117				$234,833				$236,498				$219,176				$259,711
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions			2.51	%			2.04	%			2.02	%			2.41	%			2.06	%
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before fee waived(c)			1.81	%			1.80	%(d)			1.71	%(d)			1.57	%(d)			1.59	%
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any(e)			1.60	%			1.80	%(d)			1.71	%(d)			1.35	%(d)			1.59	%
Portfolio turnover rate			26	%			18	%			22	%			9	%			17	%

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Financial Highlights (Continued)

Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016			2015			2014
Cumulative Preferred Shares:
5.625% Series A Preferred
Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s)		$28,832			$28,832			$28,832			$ 28,832			$ 28,832
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)		1,153			1,153			1,153			1,153			1,153
Liquidation preference per share		$ 25.00			$ 25.00			$ 25.00			$ 25.00			$ 25.00
Average market value (f)		$ 25.43			$ 25.68			$ 25.88			$ 25.55			$ 25.14
Asset coverage per share (g)		$ 85.97			$ 82.94			$ 83.35			$ 131.74			$ 151.49
Series B Auction Market Preferred
Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s)		$22,500			$22,500			$22,500			$ 22,500			$ 22,500
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)		1			1			1			1			1
Liquidation preference per share		$25,000			$25,000			$25,000			$ 25,000			$ 25,000
Liquidation value (h)		$25,000			$25,000			$25,000			$ 25,000			$ 25,000
Asset coverage per share (g)		$85,967			$82,936			$83,347			$131,744			$151,486
5.375% Series C Preferred
Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s)		$50,000			$50,000			$50,000			—			—
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)		2,000			2,000			2,000			—			—
Liquidation preference per share		$ 25.00			$ 25.00			$ 25.00			—			—
Average market value (f)		$ 25.01			$ 25.32			$ 25.28			—			—
Asset coverage per share (g)		$ 85.97			$ 82.94			$ 83.35			—			—
Asset Coverage (i)		344	%		332	%		333	%		527	%		606	%

†

Based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend dates and adjustments for the rights offering.

††

Based on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan and adjustments for the rights offering.

(a)

Calculated based on average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the years.

(b)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(c)

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fee waived for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 would have been 1.28%, 1.26%, 1.27%, 1.29%, and 1.32%, respectively.

(d)

The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios.

(e)

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 would have been 1.14%, 1.26%, 1.27% 1.11%, and 1.32%, respectively.

(f)

Based on weekly prices.

(g)

Asset coverage per share is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares.

(h)

Since February 2008, the weekly auctions have failed. Holders that have submitted orders have not been able to sell any or all of their shares in the auction.

(i)

Asset coverage is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements

1. Organization. The Gabelli Utility Trust (the Fund) operates as a diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 25, 1999 and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Investment operations commenced on July 9, 1999.

The Fund’s primary objective is long term growth of capital and income. The Fund will invest 80% of its assets, under normal market conditions, in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies involved in providing products, services, or equipment for (i) the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, and water and (ii) telecommunications services or infrastructure operations (the 80% Policy). The 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. However, the Fund has adopted a policy to provide shareholders with notice at least sixty days prior to the implementation of any change in the 80% Policy.

2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements. The SEC recently adopted changes to Regulation S-X to simplify the reporting of information by registered investment companies in financial statements. The amendments require presentation of the total, rather than the components, of distributable earnings on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and also require presentation of the total, rather than the components, of distributions to shareholders, except for tax return of capital distributions, if any, on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders. The amendments also removed the requirement for parenthetical disclosure of undistributed net investment income on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders. These Regulation S-X amendments are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. As a result of adopting these amendments, the distributions to shareholders in the December 31, 2017 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders presented herein have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

To improve the effectiveness of fair value disclosure requirements, the Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13), which adds, removes, and modifies certain aspects relating to fair value disclosure. ASU 2018-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption of the additions relating to ASU 2018-13 is not required, even if early adoption is elected for the removals under ASU 2018-13. Management has early adopted the removals set forth in ASU 2018-13 in these financial statements and has not early adopted the additions set forth in ASU 2018-13.

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

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

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). Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at each underlying Fund’s NAV per share as of the report date.

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 obligations 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, 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. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations. Futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable contract is traded. OTC futures and options on futures for which market quotations are readily available will be valued by quotations received from a pricing service or, if no quotations are available from a pricing service, by quotations obtained from one or more dealers in the instrument in question by the Adviser.

Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.

The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy 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 Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments).

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. 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 the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2018 is as follows:


	Valuation Inputs
	Level 1 Quoted Prices		Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs		Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs		Total Market Value at 12/31/18
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:
ASSETS (Market Value):
Common Stocks:
ENERGY AND UTILITIES
Merchant Energy		$ 4,677,810		—		$ 0		$ 4,677,810
Natural Gas Utilities		18,930,040		$ 563,630		—		19,493,670
Other Industries (a)		209,738,338		—		—		209,738,338
COMMUNICATIONS
Other Industries (a)		44,595,205		—		—		44,595,205
OTHER
Aerospace		1,057,918		—		5,863		1,063,781
Other Industries (a)		10,022,056		—		—		10,022,056
Total Common Stocks		289,021,367		563,630		5,863		289,590,860
Convertible Preferred Stocks (a)		—		92,256		—		92,256
Warrants (a)		—		71,680		—		71,680
Corporate Bonds (a)		—		28,050		—		28,050
U.S. Government Obligations		—		55,945,998		—		55,945,998
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS		$289,021,367		$56,701,614		$5,863		$345,728,844
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:*
ASSETS (Unrealized Appreciation):
EQUITY CONTRACT:
Contract for Difference Swap Agreements		—		$ 37,302		—		$ 37,302
TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS		—		$ 37,302		—		$ 37,302

(a)	Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (SOl) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings.

*	Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOl, such as options, futures, forwards, and swaps, which may be valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of the instrument.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not have transfers into or out of Level 3.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds are ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives, while collateral terms are contract specific for derivatives traded over-the-counter. Securities pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments. Cash collateral, if any, pledged for the same purpose will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund’s policy with respect to offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the master agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at December 31, 2018, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments, together with the related counterparty.

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is 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. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time an equity contract for difference swap 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.

Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in the value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon receipt or payment of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements. Equity contract for difference swap agreements held at December 31, 2018 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments.

The Fund’s volume of activity in equity contract for difference swap agreements during the year ended December 31, 2018 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $1,189,843.

At December 31, 2018, the Fund’s derivative assets (by type) are as follows:

Gross Amounts of

Recognized Assets

Gross Amounts

Net Amount of

Presented in the

Available for Offset

Assets Presented in the

Statement of Assets

in the Statement of

Statement of

and Liabilities

Assets and Liabilities

Assets

Equity Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

$37,302

—

$37,302

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets by counterparty net of the related collateral segregated by the Fund for the benefit of the counterparty as of December 31, 2018:


	Net Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
	Net Amounts of Assets
	Presented in the
	Statement of Assets and	Securities Pledged	Cash Collateral
	Liabilities	as Collateral	Received	Net Amount
Counterparty
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.	$37,302	—	—	$37,302

At December 31, 2018, the value of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under Assets, Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the effect of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Operations, under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency; Net realized gain on swap contracts; and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Limitations on the Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts, Certain Options, and Swaps. Subject to the guidelines of the Board, the Fund may engage in “commodity interest” transactions (generally, transactions in futures, certain options, certain currency transactions, and certain types of swaps) only for bona fide hedging or other permissible transactions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Pursuant to amendments by the CFTC to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. In addition, certain trading restrictions are now applicable to the Fund which permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and options premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund does not enter into such non-bona fide hedging transactions if, immediately thereafter, either (a) the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund’s existing futures positions or swaps positions and option or swaption premiums would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions, or (b) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest transactions would not exceed 100% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions. Therefore, in order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options, and certain types of swaps (including securities futures, broad based stock index futures, and financial futures contracts). As a result, in the future the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past, and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.

Restricted Securities. The Fund is not subject to an independent limitation on the amount it may invest in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and, accordingly, the Board will monitor their liquidity. At December 31, 2018, the Fund held no restricted securities.

Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain/(loss) on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on an accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.

Custodian Fee Credits and Interest Expense. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.” When cash balances are overdrawn, the Fund is charged an overdraft fee equal to 110% of the 90 day Treasury Bill rate on outstanding balances. This amount, if any, would be included in the Statement of Operations.

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to the tax treatment of currency gains and losses and reclassifications of investments in swaps. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund.

The Fund declares and pays monthly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the year. Distributions during the year may be made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. The Fund’s current distribution

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

policy may restrict the Fund’s ability to pass through to shareholders all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend and may cause such gains to be treated as ordinary income, subject to the maximum federal income tax rate. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund. The Board will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund’s NAV and the financial market environment. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board at any time.

Distributions to shareholders of the Fund’s 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred), the Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series B Preferred), and the 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series C Preferred) are recorded on a daily basis and are determined as described in Note 5.

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:


	Year Ended December 31, 2018				Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Common		Preferred		Common		Preferred
Distributions paid from:
Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)	$	6,587,626	$	1,160,224	$	4,366,533	$	824,676
Net long term capital gains		22,279,797		3,923,956		21,483,234		4,057,384
Return of capital		821,376		—		359,104		—

Total distributions paid	$	29,688,799	$	5,084,180	$	26,208,871	$	4,882,060

Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

At December 31, 2018, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:


Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations	$	27,125,991
Other temporary differences*		(59,617	)

Total	$	27,066,374

*	Other temporary differences are primarily due to adjustments on preferred share class distribution payables.

At December 31, 2018, the temporary differences between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation on investments were primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2018:


	Cost	Gross Unrealized Appreciation	Gross Unrealized Depreciation			Net Unrealized Appreciation
Investments and derivative instruments	$318,639,263	$48,512,184		$(21,385,301	)	$27,126,883

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of December 31, 2018, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of its average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of the preferred stock. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs.

The Adviser has agreed to reduce the management fee on the incremental assets attributable to the Series A and Series B Preferred if the total return of the NAV of the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fee subject to reduction, does not exceed the stated dividend rates of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the year. The Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares is monitored on a monthly basis to assess whether the total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeds the dividend rates of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the period. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares did not exceed the stated dividend rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred. Thus, advisory fees with respect to the liquidation value of these Preferred Shares were reduced by $513,321.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund paid $41,508 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G. research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $3,149.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund accrued $45,000 in accounting fees in the Statement of Operations.

As per the approval of the Board, the Fund compensates officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Adviser (although the officers may receive incentive based variable compensation from affiliates of the Adviser). During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund accrued $110,746 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund pays each Trustee who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,500 for each Board meeting attended. Each Trustee is reimbursed by the Fund for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman and the Lead Trustee each receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Trustees who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.

4. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2018, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $90,648,102 and $76,871,885, respectively.

5. Capital. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (par value $0.001). The Board has authorized the repurchase of its common shares on the open market when the shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more (or such other percentage as the Board may determine from time to time) from the NAV of the shares. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Fund did not repurchase any common shares of beneficial interest in the open market.

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31, 2018				Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount
Net increase from common shares issued in rights offering		8,831,210	$	48,571,655		—		—
Net increase from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions		767,180		4,451,844		604,889	$	3,956,071

Net increase		9,598,390	$	53,023,499		604,889	$	3,956,071

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of $0.001 par value Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on the Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Additional Information to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Series A, Series B, and Series C Preferred Shares at redemption prices of $25, $25,000, and $25, respectively, per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed and variable rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on investment income and gains available to common shareholders.

The Fund may redeem at any time, in whole or in part, the Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred at the redemption price. In addition, the Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series C Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred, or Series C Preferred.

The Series B Preferred dividend rates, as set by the auction process that is generally held every seven days, are expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of Series B Preferred subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of Series B Preferred subject to sell

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

orders. Therefore, the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate since then has been the maximum rate. Holders that have submitted sell orders have not been able to sell any or all of the Series B Preferred for which they have submitted sell orders. The current maximum rate is 150 basis points greater than the seven day ICE LIBOR rate on the day of such auction. Existing shareholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or sell such shares on each auction date. Shareholders of the Series B Preferred may also trade their shares in the secondary market.

The Fund has the authority to purchase its Series B auction market preferred shares through negotiated private transactions. The Fund is not obligated to purchase any dollar amount or number of auction market preferred shares, and the timing and amount of any auction market preferred shares purchased will depend on market conditions, share price, capital availability, and other factors. The Fund is not soliciting holders to sell these shares nor recommending that holders offer them to the Fund. Any offers can be accepted or rejected in the Fund’s discretion.

On March 29, 2018, the Fund distributed one transferable right for each of the 44,156,051 common shares outstanding held on that date. Five rights were required to purchase one additional common share at the subscription price of $5.50 per share. On May 21, 2018, the Fund issued 8,831,210 common shares receiving net proceeds of $48,273,615, after the deduction of offering expenses of $298,040. The NAV of the Fund increased by $0.12 per share on the day the additional shares were issued due to the additional shares being issued above NAV.

As of December 31, 2018, the Fund has approximately $200 million available for issuance under the current shelf registration.

The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:


Series	Issue Date		Authorized		Number of Shares Outstanding at 12/31/18	Net Proceeds		2018 Dividend Rate Range	Dividend Rate at 12/31/18	Accrued Dividends at 12/31/18
A 5.625%		July 31, 2003		1,200,000	1,153,288		$28,895,026	Fixed Rate	5.625%		$22,525
B Auction Market		July 31, 2003		1,000	900		24,590,026	2.964% to 3.919%	3.919%		16,911
C 5.375%		May 31, 2016		2,000,000	2,000,000		48,142,029	Fixed Rate	5.375%		37,326

The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common stock as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Trustees and under certain circumstances are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the preferred shares, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred shares and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies.

6. Industry Concentration. Because the Fund primarily invests in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies in the utility industry, its portfolio may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio of securities representing a broad range of investments.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

7. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

8. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of

The Gabelli Utility Trust:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2018, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018, the statement of changes in net assets attributable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2018 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2018, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets attributable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2018 by correspondence with the custodian and broker; when replies were not received from the broker, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 28, 2019

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 1986.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Utility Trust at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.


Name, Position(s) Address¹ and Age	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years	Other Directorships Held by Trustee³

INTERESTED TRUSTEES⁴:

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman and Chief Investment Officer Age: 76	Since 1999*	35	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/ Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc.	Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications)

John D. Gabelli Trustee Age: 74	Since 1999***	12	Senior Vice President of G. research, LLC	—

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES⁵:

John Birch Trustee Age: 67	Since 2018**	3	Partner, The Cardinal Partners Global; Chief Operating Officer of Sentinel Asset Management and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer of Sentinel Group Funds (2005-2015)	—

Elizabeth C. Bogan Trustee Age:74	Since 2018*	4	Senior Lecturer in Economics at Princeton University	—

James P. Conn⁶ Trustee Age: 80	Since 1999***	26	Former Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (1992- 1998)	—

Vincent D. Enright Trustee Age: 75	Since 1999*	17	Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corp. (public utility) (1994-1998)	Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics) (2008-2014); Director of The LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2011-2014)

Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.⁷ Trustee Age: 79	Since 1999**	14	Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates; Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (1995-2013); Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1983- 1989)	Director of First Republic Bank (banking); Director of Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (casino entertainment company)

Michael J. Ferrantino Trustee Age: 47	Since 2017***	2	Chief Executive Officer of lnterEx Inc.	—

Michael J. MeIarkey Trustee Age: 69	Since 2016***	25	Of Counsel in the law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson LLP; Partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie (1980-2015)	Chairman of Southwest Gas Corporation (natural gas utility)

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)


Name, Position(s) Address¹ and Age	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee	Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years	Other Directorships Held by Trustee³

Robert J. Morrissey Trustee Age: 79	Since 1999**	7	Partner in the law firm of Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch	Chairman of the Board of Directors, Belmont Savings Bank

Kuni Nakamura⁷ Trustee Age: 50	Since 2012*	37	President of Advanced Polymer, Inc. (chemical manufacturing company); President of KEN Enterprises, Inc. (real estate)	—

Salvatore J. Zizza Trustee Age:73	Since 1999**	32	President of Zizza &Associates Corp. (private holding company); Chairman of BAM (semiconductor and aerospace manufacturing); President of Bergen Cove Realty Inc.; Chairman of Metropolitan Paper Recycling Inc. (recycling) (2005-2014)	Director and Chairman of Trans- Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified Inc. (pharmaceuticals) (2009-2018)

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)


Name, Position(s) Address¹ and Age	Term of Office and Length of Time Served²	Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years

OFFICERS:

Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 67	Since 1999	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008

John C. Ball Treasurer Age: 42	Since 2017	Treasurer of funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2017; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of AMG Funds, 2014-2017; Vice President of State Street Corporation, 2007-2014

Agnes Mullady Vice President Age: 60	Since 2006	Officer of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2006; President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2015; Chief Executive Officer of G.distributors, LLC since 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group, Inc. since 2016

Andrea R. Mango Secretary and Vice President Age: 46	Since 2013	Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2016; Counsel of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2013; Secretary of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Vice President of closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2014; Corporate Vice President within the Corporate Compliance Department of New York Life Insurance Company, 2011-2013

Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 59	Since 2013	Chief Compliance Officer of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Chief Compliance Officer of AEGON USA Investment Management, 2011-2013

David I. Schachter Vice President and Ombudsman Age: 65	Since 1999	Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Vice President (since 2015) of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Vice President (1999-2015) of G. research, LLC

¹	Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted.

²	The Fund’s Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class serve for a three year term. The three year term for each class expires as follows:

Term expires at the Fund’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Term expires at the Fund’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

***

Term expires at the Fund’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

For officers, includes time served in prior officer positions with the Fund. Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

³	This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

⁴	“Interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli, who are brothers, are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC, which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser.

⁵	Trustees who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Trustees.

⁶	This Trustee is elected solely by and represents the shareholders of the preferred shares issued by this Fund.

⁷

Mr. Fahrenkopf’s daughter, Lesle. F. Foley, serves as a director of other funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Nakamura is a director of Gabelli Merger Plus+ Trust Plc, which may be deemed to be controlled by Mario J. Gabelli and/or affiliates and, in that event, would be deemed to be under common control with the Fund’s Adviser.

THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

INCOME TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)

December 31, 2018

Cash Dividends and Distributions


					Ordinary		Long Term				Total Amount		Dividend
	Payable		Record		Investment		Capital		Return of		Paid		Reinvestment
	Date		Date		Income (a)		Gains		Capital (b)		Per Share (c)		Price
Common Shares
		01/24/18		01/17/18		$0.01110		$0.03750		$0.00140		$0.05000		$6.79250
		02/21/18		02/13/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		6.66900
		03/22/18		03/15/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		6.09900
		04/23/18		04/16/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.53850
		05/23/18		05/16/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.49100
		06/22/18		06/15/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.54800
		07/24/18		07/17/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.52900
		08/24/18		08/17/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.58600
		09/21/18		09/14/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.53850
		10/24/18		10/17/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.65250
		11/23/18		11/15/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.82350
		12/14/18		12/07/18		0.01110		0.03750		0.00140		0.05000		5.92800

						$0.13320		$0.45000		$0.01680		$0.60000
5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares

		03/26/18		03/19/18		$0.08029		$0.27127		—		$0.35156
		06/26/18		06/19/18		0.08029		0.27127		—		0.35156
		09/26/18		09/19/18		0.08029		0.27127		—		0.35156
		12/26/18		12/18/18		0.08029		0.27128		—		0.35157

						$0.32116		$1.08509		—		$1.40625

5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares

		03/26/18		03/19/18		$0.07672		$0.25922		—		$0.33594
		06/26/18		06/19/18		0.07672		0.25922		—		0.33594
		09/26/18		09/19/18		0.07672		0.25922		—		0.33594
		12/26/18		12/18/18		0.07672		0.25921		—		0.33593

						$0.30688		$1.03687		—		$1.34375

Series B Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares

Auction Rate Preferred Stocks pay dividends weekly based on the maximum rate. The distributions derived from long term capital gains for the Series B Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares was $16,911 for the year ended December 31, 2018.

A Form 1099-DIV has been mailed to all shareholders of record which sets forth specific amounts to be included in your 2018 tax returns. Ordinary distributions include net investment income and realized net short term capital gains. Ordinary income is reported in box 1a of Form 1099-DIV. Capital gain distributions are reported in box 2a of Form 1099-DIV.

The long term gain distributions for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $26,203,753 or the maximum amount.

Corporate Dividends Received Deduction, Qualified Dividend Income, and U.S. Government Securities Income

In 2018, the Fund paid to common, 5.625% Series A, and 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred shareholders ordinary income dividends of $0.1404, $0.3364, and $0.3214 per share, respectively. For 2018, 85.98% of the ordinary dividend qualified for the dividend received deduction available to corporations, 100.00% of the ordinary income distribution was deemed qualified dividend income, and 12.06% of ordinary income distribution was qualified interest income and 100% of the ordinary income distribution was qualified short term capital gain. The percentage of ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund during 2018 derived from U.S. Government securities was 7.86%. Such income is exempt from state and local taxes in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of its fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2018 The percentage of U.S. Government securities held as of December 31, 2018 was 16.2% of total investments.

THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

INCOME TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued)

December 31, 2018

Historical Distribution Summary


			Short Term		Long Term				Total		Adjustment
	Investment		Capital		Capital		Return of		Distributions		to Cost
	Income (a)		Gains (a)		Gains		Capital (b)		(c)		Basis (d)
Common Shares
2018		$ 0.10440		$ 0.02880		$ 0.45000		$0.01680		$ 0.60000		$0.01680
2017		0.09960		—		0.49200		0.00840		0.60000		0.00840
2016		0.09360		0.01320		0.46440		0.02880		0.60000		0.02880
2015		0.10800		0.02160		0.25200		0.21840		0.60000		0.21840
2014		0.09960		0.00804		0.40104		0.09132		0.60000		0.09132
2013		0.14232		0.00576		0.39180		0.06012		0.60000		0.06012
2012		0.13920		—		0.26520		0.19560		0.60000		0.19560
2011		0.11520		0.05880		0.01080		0.41520		0.60000		0.41520
2010		0.07788		—		—		0.64212		0.72000		0.64212
2009		0.07596		—		—		0.64404		0.72000		0.64404
2008		0.10716		0.00360		0.04212		0.56712		0.72000		0.56712
5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares
2018		$ 0.25125		$ 0.06991		$ 1.08509		—		$ 1.40625		—
2017		0.23774		—		1.16851		—		1.40625		—
2016		0.23026		0.03347		1.14252		—		1.40625		—
2015		0.39725		0.07765		0.93135		—		1.40625		—
2014		0.27528		0.02227		1.10870		—		1.40625		—
2013		0.37067		0.01489		1.02069		—		1.40625		—
2012		0.48293		—		0.92332		—		1.40625		—
2011		0.87922		0.44909		0.07794		—		1.40625		—
2010		1.40625		—		—		—		1.40625		—
2009		1.40625		—		—		—		1.40625		—
2008		0.98590		0.03309		0.38726		—		1.40625		—
Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Shares
2018		$156.15811		$ 43.44635		$674.40554		—		$874.01000		—
2017		109.26415		—		537.03585		—		646.30000		—
2016		80.27810		11.66970		398.32200		—		490.26980		—
2015		118.61073		23.18474		278.08453		—		419.88000		—
2014		80.26781		6.49443		323.28776		—		410.05000		—
2013		110.25405		4.42978		303.60617		—		418.29000		—
2012		137.82644		—		263.51356		—		401.34000		—
2011		228.93287		116.93418		20.29295		—		366.16000		—
2010		381.65000		—		—		—		381.65000		—
2009		388.12000		—		—		—		388.12000		—
2008		663.22018		22.26115		260.50866		—		945.99000		—
5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares
2018		$ 0.24009		$ 0.06680		$ 1.03686		$ —		$ 1.34375		—
2017		0.22718		—		1.11657		—		1.34375		—
2016		0.12591		0.01830		0.62471		—		0.76892		—

(a) Taxable as ordinary income.

(b) Non-taxable.

(d) Decrease in cost basis.

All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)

At its meeting on November 14, 2018, the Board of Trustees (Board) of the Fund approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund (the Independent Board Members). The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.

Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio managers, the nature, quality and extent of administrative and shareholder services supervised or provided by the Adviser, including portfolio management, supervision of Fund operations and compliance and regulatory filings and disclosures to shareholders, general oversight of other service providers, review of Fund legal issues, assisting the Independent Board Members in their capacity as directors, and other services, and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members concluded that the services are extensive in nature and that the Adviser consistently delivered a high level of service.

Investment Performance of the Fund and Adviser. The Independent Board Members considered short term and long term investment performance for the Fund over various periods of time as compared with relevant equity indices and the performance of other core, growth, and value equity closed-end funds included in the Broadridge peer category. The Board noted that the Fund’s total return performance generally ranked in the middle of the average and median of a select group of peers and the Fund’s Broadridge peer group category for the one, three, five and ten year periods ended September 30, 2018. The Board also noted that the Fund’s common shares consistently trade at a meaningful premium to NAV. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Adviser was delivering satisfactory performance results consistent with the investment strategies being pursued by the Fund.

Costs of Services and Profits Realized by the Adviser.(a) Costs of Services to Fund: Fees and Expenses. The Independent Board Members considered the Fund’s advisory fee rate and expense ratio relative to industry averages for the Fund’s Broadridge peer group category and the advisory fees charged by the Adviser and its affiliates to other fund and non-fund clients. The Independent Board Members considered the Adviser’s fee structure as compared to that of the Adviser’s affiliate, GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (GAMCO), for services provided to institutional and high net worth accounts and in connection with sub-advisory arrangements, noting that the service level for GAMCO accounts and sub-advisory relationships is materially different than the services provided by the Adviser to its registered funds and investors in such funds. The Independent Board Members noted that the mix of services under the Advisory Agreement is much more extensive than those under the advisory agreements for non-fund clients. The Independent Board Members noted that the management and gross advisory fees, other non-management expenses, and total expenses paid by the Fund are each above the average and median for the Fund’s Broadridge peer group category and a select group of peers. They took note of the fact that the use of leverage impacts comparative expenses to peer funds, not all of which utilize leverage and certain of which are open-end funds. The Independent Board Members were aware that the Adviser waives its fee on the incremental liquidation value of the Fund’s Series A and Series B preferred stock if the total return on net asset value of the common stock does not exceed the stated dividend rate or net swap expense for the Series A and Series B preferred stock, as applicable, for the year after consideration of the reinvestment of distributions and the advisory fees attributable to the incremental liquidation value of the Series A and Series B preferred stock, and that the comparative total expense and other non-management expense

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited) (Continued)

information reflected these waivers, if applicable. The Independent Board Members concluded that the fee is acceptable based upon the qualifications, experience, reputation, and performance of the Adviser.

(b) Profitability and Costs of Services to Adviser. The Independent Board Members considered the Adviser’s overall profitability and costs. The Independent Board Members referred to the Board Materials for the pro forma income statements for the Adviser and the Fund for the period ended December 31, 2017. They noted the pro forma estimates of the Adviser’s profitability and costs attributable to the Fund, both as part of the Fund Complex and under the assumption that the Fund constituted the Adviser’s only investment company under its management, including a sensitivity analysis reflecting assets under management increasing/decreasing by 20%. The Independent Board Members also considered whether the amount of profit is a fair entrepreneurial profit for the management of the Fund and noted that the Adviser continues to substantially increase its resources devoted to Fund matters in response to regulatory requirements and new or enhanced Fund policies and procedures. The Independent Board Members concluded that the absolute advisory fee was reasonable, particularly in light of the Fund’s trading performance.

Extent of Economies of Scale as Fund Grows. The Independent Board Members considered whether there have been economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund and whether the Fund has appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, noting that assets under management for the Fund were below $400 million for the period. The Independent Board Members noted that, although the ability of the Fund to realize economies of scale through growth is more limited than for an open-end fund, economies of scale may develop for certain funds as their assets increase and their fund level expenses decline as a percentage of assets, but that fund level economies of scale may not necessarily result in Adviser level economies of scale. The Independent Board Members were aware that economies can be shared through an adviser’s investment in its fund advisory business and noted the Adviser’s increase in personnel and resources devoted to the Gabelli/GAMCO fund complex in recent years, which could benefit the Fund.

Whether Fee Levels Reflect Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members also considered whether the advisory fee rate is reasonable in relation to the asset size of the Fund and any economies of scale that may exist, and concluded that the Fund’s current fee schedule (without breakpoints) was considered reasonable, particularly in light of the Fund’s trading performance.

Other Relevant Considerations.(a) Adviser Personnel and Methods. The Independent Board Members considered the size, education, and experience of the Adviser’s staff, the Adviser’s fundamental research capabilities, and the Adviser’s approach to recruiting, training, and retaining portfolio managers and other research and management personnel, and concluded that, in each of these areas, the Adviser was structured in such a way to support the high level of services being provided to the Fund.

(b) Other Benefits to the Adviser. The Independent Board Members also considered the character and amount of other incidental benefits received by the Adviser and its affiliates from its association with the Fund. The Independent Board Members considered the brokerage commissions paid to an affiliate of the Adviser. The Independent Board Members concluded that potential fall-out benefits that the Adviser and its affiliates may receive, such as brokerage commissions paid to an affiliated broker, greater name recognition, or increased ability to obtain research services, appear to be reasonable and may in some cases benefit the Fund.

Conclusions. In considering the Advisory Agreement, the Independent Board Members did not identify any factor as all-important or all-controlling, and instead considered these factors collectively in light of the Fund’s

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited) (Continued)

surrounding circumstances. Based on this review, it was the judgment of the Independent Board Members that shareholders had received satisfactory absolute and relative performance over time consistent with the investment strategies being pursued by the Fund at reasonable fees and, therefore, continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. As a part of its decision making process, the Independent Board Members noted that the Adviser has managed the Fund since its inception, and the Independent Board Members believe that a long term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interests of the Fund. The Independent Board Members considered, generally, that shareholders invested in the Fund knowing that the Adviser managed the Fund and knowing its investment advisory fee. As such, the Independent Board Members considered, in particular, whether the Adviser managed the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies as disclosed to shareholders. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund was managed by the Adviser in a manner consistent with its investment objectives and policies. The Independent Board Members also confirmed that they were satisfied with the information provided by the Adviser, that it included all information the Independent Board Members believed was necessary to evaluate the terms of the Advisory Agreement, and that the Independent Board Members were satisfied that any questions they had were appropriately addressed. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the Advisory Agreement to the full Board.

Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable in relation to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board determined to approve the continuation of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based their decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all-important or controlling.

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS

Enrollment in the Plan

It is the policy of The Gabelli Utility Trust 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 shares of common stock 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 stock certificates to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distribution in cash must submit this request in writing to:

The Gabelli Utility Trust

c/o Computershare

P.O. Box 505000

Louisville, KY 40233

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 dividends 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 shares of common stock 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 stock 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 shares of common stock 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 stock. 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 stock at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common stock, participants will receive 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 stock 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 stock 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.

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 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 505000, Louisville, KY 40233 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 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.

THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

AND YOUR PERSONAL PRIVACY

Who are we?

The Gabelli Utility Trust 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., a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory services for a variety of clients.

What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a Fund 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.

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THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

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. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.

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.

The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGUTX.”

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.

THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

t 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

f 914-921-5118

e info@gabelli.com

GABELLI.COM


TRUSTEES
		Kuni Nakamura
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc. Executive Chairman, Associated Capital Group, Inc. John Birch Partner, The Cardinal Partners Global Elizabeth C. Bogan Senior Lecturer, Princeton University 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. Former President & Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Association Michael J. Ferrantino Chief Executive Officer, InterEx, Inc. John D. Gabelli Senior Vice President, G.research, LLC Michael J. Melarkey Of Counsel, McDonald Carano Wilson LLP Robert J. Morrissey Partner, Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch		President, Advanced Polymer, Inc. Salvatore J. Zizza Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp. OFFICERS Bruce N. Alpert President John C. Ball Treasurer Agnes Mullady Vice President Andrea R. Mango Secretary & Vice President Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer 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.

GUT Q4/2018

LOGO

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

(a)

The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

(c)

There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description.

(d)

The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that Vincent D. Enright is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Audit Fees

(a)

The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $36,712 for 2017 and $36,712 for 2018.

Audit-Related Fees

(b)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 for 2017 and $0 for 2018.

Tax Fees

(c)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning are $4,100 for 2017 and $4,100 for 2018. Tax fees represent tax compliance services provided in connection with the review of the Registrant’s tax returns.

All Other Fees

(d)

The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $0 for 2017 and $7,500 for 2018. The fees relate to review of the registrant’s registration statement.

(e)(1)

Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the registrant is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, and any affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC (“Gabelli”) that provides services to the registrant (a “Covered Services Provider”) if the independent registered public accounting firm’s engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson must report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to the other persons (other than Gabelli or the registrant’s officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (ii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or Chairperson prior to the completion of the audit.

(e)(2)

The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows:

(b) N/A

(d) 0%

(f)

The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was zero percent.

(g)

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another

investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $0 for 2017 and $0 for 2018.

(h)

The registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

The registrant has a separately designated audit committee consisting of the following members: John Birch, Vincent D. Enright, and Michael J. Melarkey.

Item 6. Investments.

(a)	Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

(b)	Not applicable.

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

The Proxy Voting Policies are attached herewith.

POLICY REGARDING VOTING OF PROXIES ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy and its related procedures regarding voting proxies for securities held in Client accounts and for which an Adviser has been delegated proxy voting authority (“Client Proxies”) is to establish guidelines regarding Client Proxies that are reasonably designed to conform with the requirements of applicable law (this “Policy”).

General Policy

Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act requires a registered investment adviser that exercises proxy voting authority over client securities to: (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes proxies related to client securities in the best interest of its Clients; (ii) ensure that the written policies and procedures address material conflicts that may arise between the interests of the investment adviser and those of its Clients; (iii) describe its proxy voting procedures to Clients, and provide copies of such procedures upon request by such Clients; and (iv) disclose to Clients how they may obtain information from the Adviser about how the Adviser voted with respect to their Securities. Each Adviser is committed to implementing policies and procedures that conform with the requirements of the Advisers Act. To that end, it has implemented this Policy to facilitate the Adviser’s compliance with Rule 206(4)-6 and to ensure that proxies related to Client Securities are voted (or not voted) in a manner consistent with the best interest of its Clients.

The Voting of Proxies on Behalf of Clients

These following procedures will be used by each of the Advisers to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio Securities held by their Clients, including the procedures that the Advisers use when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the investors in a Private Fund Client, RIC or Managed Account Client, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser; the principal underwriter; or any affiliated person of such Client, the Advisers, or the principal underwriter. These procedures will not apply where the Advisers do not have voting discretion or where the Advisers have agreed with a Client to vote the Client’s proxies in accordance with specific guidelines or procedures supplied by the Client (to the extent permitted by ERISA)¹.

Proxy Voting Committee

The Advisers’ Proxy Voting Committee (the “Proxy Committee”) was originally formed in April 1989 for the purpose of formulating guidelines and reviewing proxy statements within the parameters of the Proxy Voting Guidelines, which are appended as EXHIBIT A to this Policy. The Proxy Committee includes representatives from Research, Administration, Legal, and the Advisers. Additional or

¹With respect to any Private Fund Client or RIC Client, such deviation from these guidelines will be disclosed in the offering materials for such Client.

Revised: November 14, 2018

replacement members of the Proxy Committee will be nominated by the Chairman and voted upon by the entire Proxy Committee.

Meetings are held on an as needed basis to form views on the manner in which the Advisers should vote proxies on behalf of their Clients.

In general, the Director of Proxy Voting Services, using the Proxy Voting Guidelines, recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”), other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, will determine how to vote on each issue. For non-controversial matters, the Director of Proxy Voting Services may vote the proxy if the vote is: (1) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and not contrary to the Proxy Voting Guidelines; (2) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and is a non-controversial issue not covered by the Proxy Voting Guidelines; or (3) the vote is contrary to the recommendations of the Board of Directors but is consistent with the Proxy Voting Guidelines. In those instances, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Chairman of the Proxy Committee may sign and date the proxy statement indicating how each issue will be voted.

All matters identified by the Chairman of the Proxy Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the General Counsel as controversial, taking into account the recommendations of ISS, Glass Lewis, other third party services and the analysts of G.research, will be presented to the Proxy Voting Committee. If the Chairman of the Proxy Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the General Counsel has identified the matter as one that (1) is controversial; (2) would benefit from deliberation by the Proxy Committee; or (3) may give rise to a conflict of interest between the Advisers and investors in the Clients or the Clients, the Chairman of the Proxy Committee will initially determine what vote to recommend that the relevant Adviser should cast and that determination will go before the Proxy Committee for review.

Conflicts of Interest

The Advisers have implemented this Policy in order to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing their proxy voting decisions. By following the Proxy Voting Guidelines, as well as the recommendations of ISS, Glass Lewis, other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, the Advisers seek to avoid, wherever possible, the influence of potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, circumstances may arise in which one or more of the Advisers are faced with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest in connection with a proxy vote. In general, a conflict of interest may arise when an Adviser knowingly does business with an issuer, and may appear to have a material conflict between its own interests and the interests of the investors in a Client regarding how the proxy is to be voted. A conflict also may exist when an Adviser has actual knowledge of a material business arrangement between an issuer and an affiliate of the Adviser.

In practical terms, a conflict of interest may arise, for example, when a proxy is voted for a company that is a Client of one of the Adviser. A conflict also may arise when a Client of one of the Advisers has made a shareholder proposal in a proxy to be voted upon by one or more of the Advisers. The Director of Proxy Voting Services, together with the General Counsel, will scrutinize all proxies for these or other situations that may give rise to a conflict of interest with respect to the voting of proxies.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Operation of the Proxy Committee

For matters submitted to the Proxy Committee, each member of the Proxy Committee will receive, prior to the meeting, a copy of the proxy statement, any relevant third party research, a summary of any views provided by the portfolio manager of the applicable Client and any recommendations by G.research analysts. The portfolio manager, any member of Senior Management or the G.research analysts may be invited to present their viewpoints to the Proxy Committee. If the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the General Counsel believes that the matter before the Proxy Committee is one with respect to which a conflict of interest may exist between the Advisers and their Clients’ or investors, the General Counsel may provide an opinion to the Proxy Committee concerning the conflict. If the matter is one in which the interests of the Clients or investors, on the one hand, or the applicable Adviser, on the other, may diverge, The General Counsel may so advise and the Proxy Committee may make different recommendations as to different Clients. For any matters where the recommendation may trigger appraisal rights, The General Counsel may provide an opinion concerning the likely risks and merits of such an appraisal action.

Each matter submitted to the Proxy Committee will be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting. Should the vote concerning one or more recommendations be tied in a vote of the Proxy Committee, the Chairman of the Proxy Committee will cast the deciding vote. The Proxy Committee will notify the proxy department of its decisions and the proxies will be voted accordingly.

Although the Proxy Voting Guidelines express the normal preferences for the voting of any interests not covered by a contrary investment guideline provided by the Client, the Proxy Committee is not bound by the preferences set forth in the Proxy Voting Guidelines and will review each matter on its own merits. The Advisers subscribe to ISS and Glass Lewis, which supplies current information on companies, matters being voted on, regulations, trends in proxy voting and information on corporate governance issues.

If the vote cast either by the analyst or as a result of the deliberations of the Proxy Committee runs contrary to the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the issuer, the matter may be referred to the General Counsel to determine whether an amendment to the most recently filed Schedule 13D is appropriate.

Social Issues and Other Client Guidelines

If a Client has provided and the Advisers have accepted special instructions relating to the voting of proxies, they should be noted in the Client’s account file and forwarded to the Proxy Voting Department. This is the responsibility of the investment professional or sales assistant for the Client. In accordance with Department of Labor guidelines, each Adviser shall vote on behalf of ERISA accounts in the best interest of the plan participants with regard to social issues that carry an economic impact. Where an account is not governed by ERISA, the Advisers will vote shares held on behalf of the Client in a manner consistent with any individual investment/voting guidelines provided by the Client. Otherwise the Advisers may abstain with respect to those shares.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Specific to the Gabelli ESG Fund, the Proxy Voting Committee will rely on the advice of the portfolio managers of the Gabelli ESG Fund to provide voting recommendations on the securities held in the portfolio.

Client Retention of Voting Rights

If a Client chooses to retain the right to vote proxies or if there is any change in voting authority, the following should be notified by the investment professional or sales assistant for the Client.

- Operations

- Proxy Department

- Investment professional assigned to the account

- Chief Compliance Officer

In the event that the Board of Directors (or a Committee thereof) of one or more of the Clients managed by one of the Advisers has retained direct voting control over any security, the Proxy Voting Department will provide each Board Member (or Committee member) of the Client with a copy of the proxy statement together with any other relevant information including recommendations of ISS or other third-party services.

Proxies of Certain Non-U.S. Issuers

Proxy voting in certain countries requires “share-blocking.” Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting with a designated depository. During the period in which the shares are held with a depository, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the Clients’ custodian. Absent a compelling reason to the contrary, the Advisers believe that the benefit to the Client of exercising the vote is outweighed by the cost of voting and therefore, the Advisers will not typically vote the securities of non-U.S. issuers that require share-blocking.

In addition, voting proxies of issuers in non-US markets may also give rise to a number of administrative issues to prevent the Advisers from voting such proxies. For example, the Advisers may receive the notices for shareholder meetings without adequate time to consider the proposals in the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting. In these cases, the Advisers will look to Glass Lewis or other third party service for recommendations on how to vote. Other markets require the Advisers to provide local agents with power of attorney prior to implementing their respective voting instructions on the proxy. Although it is the Advisers’ policies to vote the proxies for its clients for which they have proxy voting authority, in the case of issuers in non-US markets, we vote client proxies on a best efforts basis.

Voting Records and Client Disclosure

The Proxy Voting Department will retain a record of matters voted upon by the Advisers for their Clients. The Advisers will supply information on how they voted a Client’s proxy upon request from the Client or an investor in a Client.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Registered Investment Companies and Form N-PX

The complete voting records for each RIC that is managed by an Adviser will be filed on Form N-PX for the twelve months ended June 30th, no later than August 31st of each year. A description of the RIC proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to Gabelli Funds, LLC at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Form ADV Disclosure

Each Adviser to a RIC or Private Fund Client will disclose in Part 2A of its Form ADV that such Clients may contact the Chief Compliance Officer during regular business hours, via email or telephone, to obtain information on how each Adviser voted such Client’s proxies for the past 5 years. The summary of this Policy included in each Adviser’s Part 2A of its Form ADV will be updated whenever this Policy is revised. Clients may also receive a copy of this Policy upon their request.

Note that updating the Form ADV with a change to this Policy outside of the annual update is voluntary. However, each Adviser will need to communicate to the Client any changes to this Policy affecting its fiduciary duty.

The Advisers’ proxy voting records will be retained in accordance with the Policy Regarding Recordkeeping.

Voting Procedures

1. Custodian banks, outside brokerage firms and clearing firms are responsible for forwarding proxies directly to the Advisers.

Proxies are received in one of two forms:

* Shareholder Vote Instruction Forms (“VIFs”) - Issued by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge is an outside service contracted by the various institutions to issue proxy materials.

* Proxy cards which may be voted directly.

2. Upon receipt of the proxy, the number of shares each form represents is logged into the proxy system, electronically or manually, according to security.

3. Upon receipt of instructions from the proxy committee, the votes are cast and recorded for each account.

Records have been maintained on the ProxyEdge system.

ProxyEdge records include:

Revised: November 14, 2018

Security Name and CUSIP Number

Date and Type of Meeting (Annual, Special, Contest)

Client Name

Adviser or Fund Account Number

Directors’ Recommendation

How the Adviser voted for the client on item

4. VIFs are kept alphabetically by security. Records for the current proxy season are located in the Proxy Voting Department office. In preparation for the upcoming season, files are transferred to an offsite storage facility during January/February.

5. If a proxy card or VIF is received too late to be voted in the conventional matter, every attempt is made to vote including:

When a solicitor has been retained, the solicitor is called. At the solicitor’s direction, the proxy is faxed or sent electronically.

In some circumstances VIFs can be faxed or sent electronically to Broadridge up until the time of the meeting.

6. In the case of a proxy contest, records are maintained for each opposing entity.

7. Voting in Person

a) At times it may be necessary to vote the shares in person. In this case, a “legal proxy” is obtained in the following manner:

* Banks and brokerage firms using the services at Broadridge:

Broadridge is notified that we wish to vote in person. Broadridge issues individual legal proxies and sends them back via email or overnight (or the Adviser can pay messenger charges). A lead-time of at least two weeks prior to the meeting is needed to do this. Alternatively, the procedures detailed below for banks not using Broadridge may be implemented.

Revised: November 14, 2018

* Banks and brokerage firms issuing proxies directly:

The bank is called and/or faxed and a legal proxy is requested.

All legal proxies should appoint:

“Representative of [Adviser name] with full power of substitution.”

b) The legal proxies are given to the person attending the meeting along with the limited power of attorney.

Revised: November 14, 2018

EXHIBIT A

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

General Policy Statement

It is the policy of the Advisers to vote in the best economic interests of our Clients. As we state in our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights, established in May 1988, we are neither for nor against management. We are for shareholders.

At our first Proxy Committee meeting in 1989, it was decided that each proxy statement should be evaluated on its own merits within the framework first established by our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights. The attached guidelines serve to enhance that broad framework.

We do not consider any issue routine. We take into consideration all of our research on the company, its directors, and their short and long-term goals for the company. In cases where issues that we generally do not approve of are combined with other issues, the negative aspects of the issues will be factored into the evaluation of the overall proposals but will not necessitate a vote in opposition to the overall proposals.

Board of Directors

We do not consider the election of the Board of Directors a routine issue. Each slate of directors is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Factors taken into consideration include:

* Historical responsiveness to shareholders

This may include such areas as:

-Paying greenmail

-Failure to adopt shareholder resolutions receiving a majority of votes

* Qualifications

* Nominating committee in place

* Number of outside directors on the board

* Attendance at meetings

* Overall performance

Revised: November 14, 2018

Selection of Auditors

In general, we support the Board of Directors’ recommendation for auditors.

Blank Check Preferred Stock

We oppose the issuance of blank check preferred stock.

Blank check preferred stock allows the company to issue stock and establish dividends, voting rights, etc. without further shareholder approval.

Classified Board

A classified board is one where the directors are divided into classes with overlapping terms. A different class is elected at each annual meeting.

While a classified board promotes continuity of directors facilitating long range planning, we feel directors should be accountable to shareholders on an annual basis. We will look at this proposal on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the board’s historical responsiveness to the rights of shareholders.

Where a classified board is in place we will generally not support attempts to change to an annually elected board.

When an annually elected board is in place, we generally will not support attempts to classify the board.

Increase Authorized Common Stock

The request to increase the amount of outstanding shares is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Factors taken into consideration include:

* Future use of additional shares

-Stock split

-Stock option or other executive compensation plan

-Finance growth of company/strengthen balance sheet

-Aid in restructuring

-Improve credit rating

-Implement a poison pill or other takeover defense

* Amount of stock currently authorized but not yet issued or reserved for stock option plans

* Amount of additional stock to be authorized and its dilutive effect

Revised: November 14, 2018

We will support this proposal if a detailed and verifiable plan for the use of the additional shares is contained in the proxy statement.

Confidential Ballot

We support the idea that a shareholder’s identity and vote should be treated with confidentiality. However, we look at this issue on a case-by-case basis. In order to promote confidentiality in the voting process, we endorse the use of independent Inspectors of Election.

Cumulative Voting

In general, we support cumulative voting.

Cumulative voting is a process by which a shareholder may multiply the number of directors being elected by the number of shares held on the record date and cast the total number for one candidate or allocate the voting among two or more candidates.

Where cumulative voting is in place, we will vote against any proposal to rescind this shareholder right.

Cumulative voting may result in a minority block of stock gaining representation on the board. When a proposal is made to institute cumulative voting, the proposal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While we feel that each board member should represent all shareholders, cumulative voting provides minority shareholders an opportunity to have their views represented.

Director Liability and Indemnification

We support efforts to attract the best possible directors by limiting the liability and increasing the indemnification of directors, except in the case of insider dealing.

Equal Access to the Proxy

The SEC’s rules provide for shareholder resolutions. However, the resolutions are limited in scope and there is a 500 word limit on proponents’ written arguments. Management has no such limitations. While we support equal access to the proxy, we would look at such variables as length of time required to respond, percentage of ownership, etc.

Fair Price Provisions

Charter provisions requiring a bidder to pay all shareholders a fair price are intended to prevent two-tier tender offers that may be abusive. Typically, these provisions do not apply to board-approved transactions.

We support fair price provisions because we feel all shareholders should be entitled to receive the same benefits.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Golden Parachutes

Golden parachutes are severance payments to top executives who are terminated or demoted after a takeover.

We support any proposal that would assure management of its own welfare so that they may continue to make decisions in the best interest of the company and shareholders even if the decision results in them losing their job. We do not, however, support excessive golden parachutes. Therefore, each proposal will be decided on a case-by- case basis.

Anti-Greenmail Proposals

We do not support greenmail. An offer extended to one shareholder should be extended to all shareholders equally across the board. Limit Shareholders’ Rights to Call Special Meetings

We support the right of shareholders to call a special meeting.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Consideration of Nonfinancial Effects of a Merger

This proposal releases the directors from only looking at the financial effects of a merger and allows them the opportunity to consider the merger’s effects on employees, the community, and consumers. As a fiduciary, we are obligated to vote in the best economic interests of our Clients. In general, this proposal does not allow us to do that. Therefore, we generally cannot support this proposal.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Mergers, Buyouts, Spin-Offs, Restructurings

Each of the above is considered on a case-by-case basis. According to the Department of Labor, we are not required to vote for a proposal simply because the offering price is at a premium to the current market price for ERISA Clients. We must take into consideration the long term interests of the shareholders.

Military Issues

Shareholder proposals regarding military production must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA Clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote according to the Client’s direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our Clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Northern Ireland

Shareholder proposals requesting the signing of the MacBride principles for the purpose of countering the discrimination of Catholics in hiring practices must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA Clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA Clients, we will vote according to Client direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.

Opt Out of State Anti-Takeover Law

This shareholder proposal requests that a company opt out of the coverage of the state’s takeover statutes. Example: Delaware law requires that a buyer must acquire at least 85% of the company’s stock before the buyer can exercise control, unless the board approves.

We consider this on a case-by-case basis. Our decision will be based on the following:

* State of Incorporation

* Management history of responsiveness to shareholders

* Other mitigating factors

Poison Pills

In general, we do not endorse poison pills.

In certain cases where management has a history of being responsive to the needs of shareholders and the stock is very liquid, we will reconsider this position.

Reincorporation

Generally, we support reincorporation for well-defined business reasons. We oppose reincorporation if proposed solely for the purpose of reincorporating in a state with more stringent anti-takeover statutes that may negatively impact the value of the stock.

Stock Incentive Plans

Director and Employee Stock incentive plans are an excellent way to attract, hold and motivate directors and employees. However, each incentive plan must be evaluated on its own merits, taking into consideration the following:

* Dilution of voting power or earnings per share by more than 10%.

* Kind of stock to be awarded, to whom, when and how much.

* Method of payment.

* Amount of stock already authorized but not yet issued under existing stock plans.

Revised: November 14, 2018

* The successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value.

Supermajority Vote Requirements

Supermajority voting requirements in a company’s charter or bylaws require a level of voting approval in excess of a simple majority of the outstanding shares. In general, we oppose supermajority-voting requirements. Supermajority requirements often exceed the average level of shareholder participation. We support proposals’ approval by a simple majority of the shares voting.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Limit Shareholders Right to Act by Written Consent

Written consent allows shareholders to initiate and carry on a shareholder action without having to wait until the next annual meeting or to call a special meeting. It permits action to be taken by the written consent of the same percentage of the shares that would be required to effect proposed action at a shareholder meeting.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

“Say-on-Pay” / “Say-When-on-Pay” / “Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”

Required under the Dodd-Frank Act; these proposals are non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation. We will generally vote with the Board of Directors’ recommendation(s) on advisory votes on executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay”), advisory votes on the frequency of voting on executive compensation (“Say-When-on-Pay”) and advisory votes relating to extraordinary transaction executive compensation (“Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”). In those instances when we believe that it is in our clients’ best interest, we may abstain or vote against executive compensation and/or the frequency of votes on executive compensation and/or extraordinary transaction executive compensation advisory votes.

Proxy Access

Proxy access is a tool used to attempt to promote board accountability by requiring that a company’s proxy materials contain not only the names of management nominees, but also any candidates nominated by long-term shareholders holding at least a certain stake in the company. We will review proposals regarding proxy access on a case-by-case basis taking into account the provisions of the proposal, the company’s current governance structure, the successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value, as well as other applicable factors.

Revised: November 14, 2018

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School, and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

MANAGEMENT OF OTHER ACCOUNTS

The table below shows the number of other accounts managed by Mario J. Gabelli and the total assets in each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other paid investment vehicles and other accounts as of December 31, 2018. For each category, the table also shows the number of accounts and the total assets in the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on account performance.


Name of Portfolio Manager	Type of Accounts	Total No. of Accounts Managed	Total Assets	No. of Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance	Total Assets in Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance
1. Mario J. Gabelli	Registered Investment Companies:	24	$19.0 billion	5	$4.6 billion
	Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:	11	$983.1 million	8	$806.8 million
	Other Accounts:	1,214	$8.4 billion	1	$194.8 million

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

As reflected above, Mr. Gabelli manages accounts in addition to the Trust. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager also has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other accounts. These potential conflicts include:

ALLOCATION OF LIMITED TIME AND ATTENTION. As indicated above, Mr. Gabelli manages multiple accounts. As a result, he will not be able to devote all of his time to management of the Trust. Mr. Gabelli, therefore, may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he were to devote all of his attention to the management of only the Trust.

ALLOCATION OF LIMITED INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. As indicated above, Mr. Gabelli manages managed accounts with investment strategies and/or policies that are similar to the Trust. In these cases, if the he identifies an investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple accounts, a Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity because the opportunity may be allocated among all or many of these accounts or other accounts managed primarily by other Portfolio Managers of the Adviser, and their affiliates. In addition, in the event Mr. Gabelli determines to purchase a security for more than one account in an aggregate amount that may influence the market price of the security, accounts that purchased or sold the security first may receive a more favorable price than accounts that made subsequent transactions.

SELECTION OF BROKER/DEALERS. Because of Mr. Gabelli’s indirect majority ownership interest in G.research LLC., he may have an incentive to use G.research to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund.

PURSUIT OF DIFFERING STRATEGIES. At times, Mr. Gabelli may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the accounts for which he exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, he may execute differing or opposite transactions for one or more accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of one or more other accounts.

VARIATION IN COMPENSATION. A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to Mr. Gabelli differ among the accounts that he manages. If the structure of the Adviser’s management fee or the Portfolio Manager’s compensation differs among accounts (such as where certain accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the Portfolio Manager may be motivated to favor certain accounts over others. The Portfolio Manager also may be motivated to favor accounts in which he has an investment interest, or in which the Adviser, or their affiliates have investment interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance a Portfolio Manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the Portfolio Manager in affording preferential treatment to those accounts that could most significantly benefit the Portfolio Manager. For example, as reflected above, if Mr. Gabelli manages accounts which have performance fee arrangements, certain portions of his compensation will depend on the achievement of performance milestones on those accounts. Mr. Gabelli could be incented to afford preferential treatment to those accounts and thereby by subject to a potential conflict of interest.

The Adviser, and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address the various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Adviser and their staff members. However, there is no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be able to detect and prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may arise.

COMPENSATION STRUCTURE FOR MARIO J. GABELLI

Mr. Gabelli receives incentive-based variable compensation based on a percentage of net revenues received by the Adviser for managing the Trust. Net revenues are determined by deducting from gross investment management fees the firm’s expenses (other than Mr. Gabelli’s compensation) allocable to this Trust. Six closed-end registered investment companies (including this Trust) managed by Mr. Gabelli have arrangements whereby the Adviser will only receive its investment advisory fee attributable to the liquidation value of outstanding preferred stock (and Mr. Gabelli would only receive his percentage of such advisory fee) if certain performance levels are met. Additionally, he receives similar incentive based variable compensation for managing other accounts within the firm and its affiliates. This method of compensation is based on the premise that superior long-term performance in managing a portfolio should be rewarded with higher compensation as a result of growth of assets through appreciation and net investment activity. The level of compensation is not determined with specific reference to the performance of any account against any specific benchmark. One of the other closed-end registered investment companies managed by Mr. Gabelli has a performance (fulcrum) fee arrangement for which his compensation is adjusted up or down based on the performance of the investment company relative to an index. Mr. Gabelli manages other accounts with performance fees. Compensation for managing these accounts has two components. One component is based on a percentage of net revenues to the investment adviser for managing the account. The second component is based on absolute performance of the account, with respect to which a percentage of such performance fee is paid to Mr. Gabelli. As an executive officer of the Adviser’s parent company, GBL, Mr. Gabelli also receives ten percent of the net operating profits of the parent company. He receives no base salary, no annual bonus, and no stock options. Mr. Gabelli may also enter into and has entered into agreements to defer or waive his compensation.

OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND

Mario J. Gabelli owned over $1 million of shares of the Trust as of December 31, 2018.

(b)	Not applicable.

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


Period	(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased	(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)	(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Month #1 07/01/2018 through 07/31/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,251,084 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000
Month #2 08/01/2018 through 08/31/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,319,841 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000
Month #3 09/01/2018 through 09/30/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,390,788 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000
Month #4 10/01/2018 through 10/31/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,461,615 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000


Month #5 11/01/2018 through 11/30/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,531,803 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000
Month #6 12/01/2018 Through 12/31/2018	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – 53,600,865 Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

Total	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	Common – N/A Preferred Series A – N/A Preferred Series C – N/A	N/A

Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:


a.		The date each plan or program was announced – The notice of the potential repurchase of common and preferred shares occurs quarterly in the Fund’s quarterly report in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
b.		The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved – Any or all common shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. Any or all preferred shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value of $25.00.
c.		The expiration date (if any) of each plan or program – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.
d.		Each plan or program that has expired during the period covered by the table – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.
e.		Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases. – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

Item 11. 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 has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

(a)	If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company, provide the following dollar amounts of income and fees/compensation related to the securities lending activities of the registrant during its most recent fiscal year:

(1) Gross income from securities lending activities; $0

(2) All fees and/or compensation for each of the following securities lending activities and related services: any share of revenue generated by the securities lending program paid to the securities lending agent(s) (“revenue split”); fees paid for cash collateral management services (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split; administrative fees that are not included in the revenue split; fees for indemnification that are not included in the revenue split; rebates paid to borrowers; and any other fees relating to the securities lending program that are not included in the revenue split, including a description of those other fees;

(3) The aggregate fees/compensation disclosed pursuant to paragraph (2); $0 and

(4) Net income from securities lending activities (i.e., the dollar amount in paragraph (1) minus the dollar amount in paragraph (3)). $0

(b)	If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company, describe the services provided to the registrant by the securities lending agent in the registrant’s most recent fiscal year. N/A

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)(1)

Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.

(a)(2)

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

(a)(3)

Not applicable.

(a)(4)

Not applicable.

(b)

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 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 3/7/19

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 3/7/19

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John C. Ball

John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date 3/7/19

^* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.