United Utilities
Encyclopedia
United Utilities Group PLC (UU) is the UK's largest listed water business. The Group owns and manages the regulated water and waste water network in the north west England, through it subsidiary United Utilities Water PLC (UUW), which is responsible for the vast majority of the group's assets and profit.
United Utilities has its headquarters in Warrington
with 9,000 employees. Its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange
and it is a member of the FTSE 100 Index
.
Its water business is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991
and NORWEB
. It sold its telecoms business, Your Communications in 2006, and Vertex
in March 2007.
In December 2007, United Utilities sold its electricity distribution network to North West Electricity Networks, a joint venture between Colonial First State
, which is part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
, and US investment bank JPMorgan Chase. Electricity North West
Limited became the licensed Distribution Network Operator for the north west of England as a consequence of the sale.
In 2010 Electricity Northwest bought the electricity network operations arm of United Utilities.
networks. In North West England it is investing £3.6 billion between 2010–2015 to meet ever-increasing water quality standards, deliver environmental improvements and make their network more reliable.
United Utilities has its headquarters in Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
with 9,000 employees. Its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and it is a member of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
Its water business is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991
Water Industry Act 1991
The Water Industry Act 1991 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament consolidating previous enactments relating to the water supply and the provision of wastewater services in England and Wales. It further implemented recommendations of the Law Commission.-Sections:Part 1 deals with the...
History
United Utilities was created in 1995 by the merger of North West WaterNorth West Water
North West Water was a water supply company serving north west England. It was originally the North West Water Authority, one of ten regional authorities created by the Water Act 1973. In 1989 it became North West Water plc, and was privatised...
and NORWEB
NORWEB
Norweb PLC, originally the North West Electricity Board, was a British electricity supply and distribution company. It supplied electricity to about 4.7 million industrial, commercial and domestic customers in the North West of England. The Board was originally formed in 1948 as part of the...
. It sold its telecoms business, Your Communications in 2006, and Vertex
Vertex (company)
'Vertex is a leading BPO and Customer Management Outsourcer. It operates across a wide range of sectors and geographies delivering rewarding customer experiences and valuable client outcomes....
in March 2007.
In December 2007, United Utilities sold its electricity distribution network to North West Electricity Networks, a joint venture between Colonial First State
Colonial First State
Colonial First State was established in 1988 and is now one of Australia's leading wealth management groups, with more than A$90 billion under management. It is owned by the Commonwealth Bank Group.- Product range :...
, which is part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is a multinational bank with businesses across New Zealand, Fiji, Asia, USA and the United Kingdom. Commonwealth Bank provides a variety of financial services including retail, business and institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance,...
, and US investment bank JPMorgan Chase. Electricity North West
Electricity North West
Electricity North West is a British electricity distribution network operator, responsible for the administration and maintenance of the network that distributes electricity throughout the North West of England.-Background and History:...
Limited became the licensed Distribution Network Operator for the north west of England as a consequence of the sale.
In 2010 Electricity Northwest bought the electricity network operations arm of United Utilities.
Activities
United Utilities operates water and wastewaterWastewater
Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations...
networks. In North West England it is investing £3.6 billion between 2010–2015 to meet ever-increasing water quality standards, deliver environmental improvements and make their network more reliable.