File No. 70-10236
AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF
NOTIFICATION
(RULE
24)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
BY
NATIONAL GRID PLC
On June 29, 2005, in accordance with the order of
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") dated
September 30, 2004, Holding Company Act Release No. 27898 (the "September
2004 Order"), National Grid plc, formerly National Grid Transco plc,
("National Grid" or "National Grid Transco"), submitted
its report for the period October 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005 (the "March
2005 Report"). Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms in
this Amendment to Certificate of Notification shall have the meaning set forth
in the September 2004 Order and the March 2005 Report. National Grid is filing
this amendment to correct certain inaccuracies contained in the March 2005
Report arising from the following:
Tax amounts
used to adjust common stockholders' funds for Exhibit A-2 (National Grid
Transco, NGH One, and Intermediate Company Capitalization Table) of the March
2005 Report were inadvertently assumed to be in thousands of dollars ($000)
rather than dollars. This resulted in inaccuracies in such Exhibit A-2.
There was a £3 million decrease in the
estimated tax charge for National Grid Holdings One plc consolidated which
resulted in an overestimation of National Grid Holdings One plc consolidated
earnings in Reporting Requirement No. 8(c) and Reporting Requirement No.
9(b).
Consolidated net income of National Grid
Holdings Limited was overstated by £24 million in Reporting Requirement No.
9(b).
The list of loans "issued"
under Reporting Requirement No. 10 inadvertently included some loan repayments.
In this Amendment, Pursuant to the September
2004 Order, the value of securities issued in currencies other than the dollar
were translated into dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on September 30,
2004 which was 1 GBP to 1.80 USD. Other items in the Amendment reflect exchange
rate translations as of the end of the reporting period at the then prevailing
exchange rate of 1 GBP to 1.89 USD, or in the case of income statement items at
an average rate for the period of 1 GBP to 1.87 USD. The exchange rate
conversion is provided solely for convenience and should not be taken to mean
that the pound sterling amounts have been, could have been, or could be
converted to US Dollars at the rates indicated or at any other
rates.
Accordingly, National Grid hereby
amends the March 2005 Report as
follows:
A. Reporting Requirement No.
8 of the March 2005 Report is hereby deleted and is replaced in its entirety by
the following:
Reporting Requirement No. 8: The ratio of
investment in FUCOs to National Grid Transco's total consolidated
capitalization, the market to book ratio of National Grid Transco's common
stock, and an analysis of the growth in consolidated retained earnings,
segregating total earnings growth attributable to FUCO investments from that
attributable to other businesses of National Grid
Transco.
Response
(in millions):
A.
|
The ratio of investment in FUCOs to National Grid
Transco's total consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2005 was
48%.
|
B.
|
The market to book ratio of National Grid
Transco's common stock as of March 31, 2005 was 1.4.
|
C.
|
National Grid Transco's consolidated earnings
under US GAAP for the reporting period was GBP 1,304 million (USD 2,438
million). This excludes other comprehensive income under US GAAP for the
reporting period of GBP 64 million (USD 120 million). Consolidated retained
earnings under US GAAP were reduced during the reporting period by dividends of
GBP 628 million (USD 1,174 million).
National
Grid Holdings One plc consolidated earnings under US GAAP as of March 31, 2005
was GBP 1,010 million (USD 1,889 million). There was no other comprehensive
income under US GAAP for the reporting period. Consolidated retained earnings
were reduced by dividends of GBP 650 million (USD 1,216 million) paid by
National Grid Holdings One plc to National Grid Transco during the reporting
period.
|
As described in more detail in the full year
results of National Grid Transco filed on Form on 20-F on June 15, 2005,
National Grid Transco's consolidated earnings, under UK GAAP, for the year
ended March 21, 2005 before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation were
£1,106m ($2,068m) on revenue of £8,521m ($15,934m).
Underlying operating profit on a UK GAAP basis
from UK electricity and gas transmission was up 7% at £809m ($1,513m)
compared with £759m ($1,419m) last year. This reflected the beneficial
timing impacts from the connections charging reform ("Plugs") of
£54m ($101m) and the collection of the under-recovery of electricity
transmission owner revenue of £26m ($49m). These increases were partially
offset by pension deficit charges, higher by £11m ($21m), and incentive
profits, lower by £16m ($30m), against the backdrop of tougher regulatory
targets in both the electricity and gas system operator incentive schemes.
Transmission operator controllable costs, which exclude increases in ongoing
pension costs, were reduced by 1% in real terms during the
year.
Underlying operating profit on a UK GAAP
basis from UK gas distribution was down £146m ($273m) at £570m
($1,066m) compared with £716m ($1,339m) last year. Formula income declined
£53m ($99m), primarily from reduced transportation prices, due to the
timing of allowed revenue recoveries, exacerbated by a very mild winter.
Revenues would have been some £70m ($131m) higher if seasonal normal
temperatures had occurred. The planned increase of replacement expenditure
(repex), which is fully expensed, was £86m ($161m). The remainder of the
year-on-year variance was due to a £17m ($32m) increase in charges relating
to gas commodity prices and a reduction in pension costs of £9m ($17m)
primarily due to deficit charges.
The UK
electricity and gas transmission business and the UK gas distribution business
are both owned indirectly by National Grid Holdings One plc, which is a
FUCO.
In the US, underlying operating profit on
a UK GAAP basis from US electricity transmission was up £4m ($7m) to
£123m ($230m) on a constant currency basis. This was primarily due to
reduced costs.
The performance of US
electricity and gas distribution was particularly strong. Underlying operating
profit on a UK GAAP basis was up 15% at £374m ($699m) on a constant
currency basis compared with £325m ($608m) last year.
Electricity delivery volumes increased 0.5%
compared to the prior year. On a weather adjusted basis, total electricity
delivery volumes increased by 1.4% and by 1.7% in the important domestic sales
category, adding £17m ($32m) to underlying operating profit on a UK GAAP
basis. The year-on-year weather effect reduced underlying operating profit on a
UK GAAP basis by some £9m ($17m), primarily due to a cooler than normal
summer.
US controllable costs, on a US GAAP
basis, have been reduced by 20% in real terms since 2001/02, including a
£35m ($65m) reduction since last year, due primarily to staffing reductions
and the improved management of bad debts.
Underlying operating profit on a UK GAAP basis
for the Group's Wireless Infrastructure business was up £40m ($75m)
at £46m ($86m) due to the acquisition of the UK operations of Crown Castle
International Corp. on August 31, 2004. The business is performing in line with
the Group's expectations and the integration with the Group's
existing business, Gridcom UK, is on schedule.
Underlying operating profit on a UK GAAP basis
from the Group's Other activities (including joint ventures), was up
£66m ($123m) at £169m ($316m) compared with £103m ($193m) last
year. This reflects increased property stock sales by SecondSite, the
elimination of losses at Fulcrum Connections and items relating to insurance.
These were only partially offset by the expected impact of lower prices charged
by the Group's Metering business under new contracts signed with its gas
supply customers.
Under US GAAP, National Grid
Transco revenues in the year ended March 31, 2005 were £8,534m ($15,959m)
and net income was £1,304m ($2,438m). Operating profit for UK electricity
and gas transmission and UK gas distribution was £711m ($1,330m) and
£712m ($1,331m).
B. Reporting Requirement No. 9 of the March 2005
Report is hereby deleted and is replaced in its entirety by the
following:
Reporting Requirement No. 9: A statement of
revenues and net income for each FUCO for the twelve months ending as of the end
of the reporting period.
Response:
A.
|
The consolidated revenue under US GAAP for National Grid
Holdings One plc for the year ended March 31, 2005 was GBP 4,752 million (USD
8,886 million). The consolidated revenue under
US GAAP for National Grid Holdings Limited for the year ended March 31, 2005 was
GBP 1,423 million (USD 2,690 million). The
consolidated revenue under US GAAP for Lattice Group plc for the year ended
March 31, 2005 was GBP 3,183 million (USD 6,016 million).
|
B.
|
The consolidated net income under US GAAP for National
Grid Holdings One plc for the year ended March 31, 2005 was GBP 1,010 million
(USD 1,889 million).
The consolidated net
income under US GAAP for National Grid Holdings Limited for the year ended March
31, 2005 was GBP 478 million (USD 894 million).
The consolidated net income under US GAAP for
Lattice Group plc for the year ended March 31, 2005 was GBP 486 million (USD 909
million).
|
C. Reporting Requirement No. 10 of the March 2005
Report is hereby deleted and is replaced in its entirety by the
following:
Reporting Requirement No.
10: A list of the securities issued by the Intermediate Companies during
the reporting period, including principal amount, interest rate, term, number of
shares and aggregate proceeds, as applicable, with the acquiring company
identified and a brief explanation of the procedure followed to determine the
market rate of interest charged, as
applicable.
Response:
Issuing Company
|
Acquiring Company
|
Initial Principal
Amount
|
Interest Rate
|
Term of Loan
|
GBP Balance at 03/31/05
|
USD Balance at 03/31/05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Grid (US) Holdings Ltd
|
National Grid Transco
|
GBP 30,974,460
|
3 month GBP Libor + .5%
|
On Demand
|
381,847,187
|
721,843,922
|
National Grid (US) Holdings Ltd
|
National Grid Transco
|
GBP 82,475,279
|
3 month GBP Libor + .5%
|
On Demand
|
381,847,187
|
721,843,922
|
National Grid (US) Investments 4 Ltd
|
National Grid (US) Holdings Ltd
|
GBP 1,629,926
|
Non- interest bearing
|
On Demand
|
1,629,926
|
3,081,212
|
Note: The rates of Libor + 0.5% are directly comparable
to National Grid Transco's own cost of external bank facilities of Libor +
0.425%.This rate has been adjusted slightly to reflect that the loans are to
Intermediate Companies whose credit strength is less than the parent National
Grid Transco.
D. Exhibit A-2 of the March 2005 Report is hereby
deleted and is replaced in its entirety by Exhibit A attached
hereto.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, the undersigned company has duly caused this
amendment to certificate of notification (Commission's File No 70-10236)
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
NATIONAL GRID
PLC
By:
/s/ John G.
Cochrane
John
G. Cochrane
Authorized
Representative
Date: August 9,
2005
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
|
Description
|
Page
|
Exhibit A
|
Amended Exhibit A-2 National Grid Transco, NGH One, and
Intermediate
Company Capitalization Table
|
Filed herewith
|
Exhibit A
AMENDED EXHIBIT
A-2
NATIONAL GRID TRANSCO, NGH ONE, AND
INTERMEDIATE COMPANY
CAPITALIZATION
TABLE
|
National Grid Transco plc
(consolidated)
|
National Grid Holdings One plc
(consolidated)
|
National Grid Holdings
Inc
|
National Grid (US) Investments
4
|
National Grid (US) Holdings
Limited
|
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
Common stockholders' funds
|
20,017.0
|
41.8
|
4,109.0
|
14.4
|
4,200.0
|
52.2
|
2,184.9
|
24.2
|
1,399.0
|
64.6
|
Preferred stockholders' funds
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Short - term debt
|
6,137.2
|
12.8
|
9,911.6
|
34.8
|
3,852.4
|
47.8
|
6,837.4
|
75.8
|
765.4
|
35.4
|
Long - term debt
|
21,687.9
|
45.3
|
14,473.1
|
50.2
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
Equity minority interests
|
19.3
|
0.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
Preference stock issued by subsidiaries
|
52.3
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
-
|
Total capitalization
|
47,913.7
|
100.0
|
28,493.7
|
100.0
|
8,052.4
|
100.0
|
9,022.3
|
100.0
|
2,164.4
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Grid US (Partner) 1
Limited
|
National Grid US (Partner) 2
Limited
|
National Grid General
Partnership
|
|
|
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
$MM
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Common stockholders' funds
|
4,365.9
|
100.0
|
44.1
|
100.0
|
4,410.0
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stockholders' funds
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Short - term debt
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
0.1
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Long - term debt
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Equity minority interests
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Preference stock issued by subsidiaries
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
4,366.0
|
100.0
|
44.1
|
100.0
|
4,410.1
|
100.0
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The above table excludes all current
accounts (both payables and receivables) relating to trading, interest, and
dividends and other intercompany balances not designated as
debt.
2. Except where stated as
consolidated, the numbers presented above are on the basis of equity accounting
for investments held in subsidiary undertakings.