Energy Supply Licences

Scottish & Southern Energy PLC
07 August 2007



                        SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ENERGY PLC
                 SUBMITS APPLICATION FOR ENERGY SUPPLY LICENCES
                                   IN IRELAND


Scottish and Southern Energy plc ('SSE') has today submitted applications for an
Electricity Supply Licence and a Gas Supply & Shipping Licence to enable it to
enter and compete in the de-regulated Irish energy markets.

SSE proposes that its wholly owned subsidiary, SSE (Ireland) Ltd*, will own,
operate and manage these licences. This business is registered and based in
Ireland. SSE intends to enter the electricity and gas markets simultaneously,
concentrating on the industrial and commercial market as a first priority and
then expanding into the domestic markets.

Alistair Phillips-Davies, Energy Supply Director said: 'As a proven low cost
supplier and with experience of operating in de-regulated markets, the opening
up of the Irish market presents a real opportunity for SSE to pursue its
strategy of delivering sustained real dividend growth through investment
opportunities in regulated and non-regulated energy related businesses.

'Our intention is to become a significant new player in the Irish market. We
will initially aim to sell a range of electricity and gas products which may
then be followed by renewable products, metering, telecoms and energy services.'

SSE intends to establish the necessary infrastructure to manage and grow an
electricity and gas supply business in Ireland; including sales, marketing,
customer service and risk management teams. The new teams will be entirely
focussed on developing the Irish market and will be able to call upon additional
expertise and support from SSE's well established existing businesses.


                                     -ends-

Notes to Editors:

* SSE (Ireland) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of SSE Energy Supply Ltd which
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy plc.

 1. SSE Energy Supply Limited already holds an electricity supply licence for
    Northern Ireland.

 2. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) is one of the largest energy companies in
    the UK. It is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and
    supply of electricity; energy trading; the storage, distribution and supply
    of gas, electrical and utility contracting; and telecoms.

 3. SSE supplies more than 8 million customers through its retail brands,
    Southern Electric, SWALEC, Scottish Hydro Electric and Atlantic. It
    transmits and distributes electricity to over 3.6 million customers in
    central southern England and the north of Scotland. SSE is the largest
    non-nuclear electricity generator with over 10,000 megawatts of capacity
    from the most diverse portfolio of power stations. It is also the leading
    generator of electricity from renewable resources.


Media enquiries to:

Justyn Smith, Head of Media Relations - 0845 0760 530


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