United Utilities - preferred bidder for MSW con...

United Utilities Group PLC

19 December 2008

UNITED UTILITIES SELECTED AS PREFERRED BIDDER BY DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL AND 
        DERBY CITY COUNCIL FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT CONTRACT        

United Utilities today announces that it has been selected as preferred bidder
for a substantial municipal solid waste treatment contract in Derbyshire, via a
joint venture with Interserve. Confirmation of the contract award decision by
Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council is expected in January 2009.

The contract is due to commence in April 2010 with an expected duration of 27
years and will include the design, build and operation of a new waste treatment
facility. The value of the contract is estimated to be in the region of several
hundred million pounds.

Chief Executive of United Utilities, Philip Green, said:

"We are very pleased to have been awarded preferred bidder status for this
contract. This is an important development as it represents our first step into
the municipal solid waste treatment sector, enabling us to utilise our core
skills in a new market with significant growth potential."

United Utilities' contacts

For further information please contact:

Philip Green, Chief Executive                        [phone]     
                                                                             
Tim Weller, Chief Financial Officer                  [phone]     
                                                                             
Gaynor Kenyon, Communications Director               [phone]     
                                                                             
Darren Jameson, Head of Investor Relations           [phone]     
                                                                             
Dominic Fry / Tom Murray, Tulchan Communications     [phone]