CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
Putnam Equity Income Fund:

We consent to the use of our report dated January 2, 2002, incorporated
in this Registration Statement by reference, to the Putnam Equity Income
Fund and to the references to our firm under the captions "Financial
Highlights" in the prospectuses and "Independent Accountants and
Financial Statements" in the Statement of Additional Information.

                                                /s/ KPMG LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 25, 2002