**Exhibit 4.9**

 

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| **National Grid Transco** |                   |   |   |   |   | 1-3      Strand                   |   |   | T +44      (0) 20 7004 3000 |   |
|---------------------------|------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|-----------------------------------|--------|--------|-----------------------------|--------|
| London WC2N 5EH           | F +44 (0) 20 7004 3004 |
|                      |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   | www.ngtgroup.com            |   |
|                      |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   |                        |   |
|                           |                        |        |        |        |        |                                   |        |   |                        |        |
| 5th June 2003             |                   |   |   |   |   | Sir John    Parker FREng          |   |   |                        |   |
|                      |                   |   |   |   |   | Chairman                          |   |   |                        |
|                      |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   |                        |
| Mr John      Grant        |                   |   |   |   |   | D: +44      (0) 20 7004 3010 |   |   |                        |
| The Malthouse             |                   |   |   |   |   | F: +44      (0) 20 7004 3012 |   |   |                        |
| Manor    Lane             |                   |   |   |   |   | M: +44      (0) 7831 496201  |   |   |                        |
| Claverdon                 |                   |   |   |   |   | john.parker@ngtgroup.com          |   |   |                        |
| Warwickshire              |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   |                        |
| CV35 8NH                  |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   |                        |
|                      |                   |   |   |   |   |                              |   |   |                        |

 

| Dear |   |
|------|--------|

With reference to your letter of appointment dated 16th November 1995 as amended by the letters of 11th October 1996, 1st September 1998 and 24th October 2001, I am writing to confirm the terms of your appointment as a Non­Executive Director of National Grid Transco plc (the "Company") with effect from 1 April 2003. It is agreed that this is a contract for services and is not a contract of employment.

AppointmentYour appointment commended on 17th November 1995 and currently lasts until the Company's AGM in 2004, unless otherwise terminated earlier in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association or by and at the discretion of either party upon one month's written notice. Continuation of your contract of appointment is contingent on satisfactory performance and re­election at forthcoming AGMs. In the unlikely event that shareholders do not support, your appointment or other shareholder action terminates your appointment before the 2004 AGM, you will not be entitled to receive damages for breach of contract. As you know, it is Board policy that Non­Executive Directors are typically expected to serve two three-year terms,although the Board has invited you to serve for an additional period to the AGM in 2004. In advance of this date the Nominations Committee will reassess any further extensions in the light of best practice in corporate governance at that time.

Time CommitmentOverall we anticipate a time commitment of approximately 2-21⁄2 days on average per month taking account reading and preparation time for Board and Committee meetings. This will include attendance at Board meetings (estimated 9 scheduled meetings per annum of which 2-3 per annum will be in the USA) plus ad hoc and emergency meetings, the AGM, any extraordinary general meetings, 2 Board strategy sessions and at least one site visit per year. It is planned that certain Board meetings will be held out of London at the Company's operations (in the UK and USA).

By confirming this appointment, you have agreed that you are able to allocate sufficient time to meet the expectations of your role including appropriate preparation    time. The agreement of the Chairman should be sought before accepting additional    commitments that might affect the time you are able to devote to your roleas a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

|   | National Grid Transco plc                           |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|   | Registered Office: 1–3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH |
|   | Registered in England and Wales, No    4031152      |

 

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You should also have regard to your duties as a director in light of the UK Listing Rules and Combined Code and obligations arising as a result of the Company's shares being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as set out in the relevant section in the Directors' Information Pack. You will also be subject to the Company's Share Dealing Code as set out in the Directors Information Pack.

| Role                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Non-Executive Directors have the same      general legal responsibilities to the Company as any other director. The      Board as a whole is collectively responsible for promoting the success      of the Company by directing and supervising the Company's affairs. The    Board: |

| • | Provides effective business leadership of the Company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed; |
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| • | sets the Company's strategic aims, ensures that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the Company to meet its objectives, and reviews management performance; and |
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| • | sets the Company's values and standards and ensures that its obligations to its shareholders and others are understood and met. |
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| In addition to these requirements of all    directors, the role of the non-executive has the following key elements: |
| •                                                                                                               | **Strategy:**Non-Executive Directors should constructively challenge and contribute to the development of strategy; |

| • | **Performance:**Non-Executive Directors should scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance; |
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| • | **Risk:**Non-Executive Directors should satisfy themselves that the financial function of the Company is professionally managed and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible; and |
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| • | **People:**Non-Executive Directors are responsible for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors and have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, senior management and in succession planning. |
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CommitteesThis letter refers to your appointment as a Non-Executive Director of the Company. You have also been requested to serve on the Audit and Nominations Committees and be chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

FeesYou will be paid an annual retainer fee of £30,000gross per annum which will be paid monthly in arrears. You will also be entitledto attendance fees of £1,500 for each Board meeting held in your countryof residence and £3,000 for each overseas meeting. This attendance feeis intended to cover your attendance at any Committee meetings. For your chairmanshipof the Remuneration Committee you will receive £12,500per annum. You will not receive any additional fees for membership of, or attendanceat, any Board Committee meetings. The Company will reimburse you for all reasonableand properly documented expenses you incur in performing the duties of your office.The Board shall review the above fees from time to time and they are thereforesubject to change. All fees and payments will be made subject to any deductionsrequired to be made by the Company.

 

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|   |   |
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| Outside Interests |
|-------------------|

| It is accepted and acknowledged that you have business interests other than those of the Company and have declared any conflicts that are apparent at present. In the event that you become aware of any potential conflicts of interest, these should be disclosed to the Chairman and/or Company Secretary as soon as apparent. |
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| The Board of the Company have determined you to be independent according to the provision of the Combined Code. |
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| Confidentiality |
|-----------------|

| You will, naturally, during your appointment and following its termination not disclose or communicate to any person (except as required by law or in the course of the proper performance of your duties, or with the consent of the Board of Directors) nor use for your own account or advantage any confidential information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiary or associate companies which you obtained during your appointment or otherwise. |
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| You will be required to return all papers containing confidential information on termination of the appointment. |
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| Your attention is also drawn to the requirements under both legislation and regulation as to the disclosure of price sensitive information. Consequently you should avoid making any statements that might risk a breach of these requirements without prior clearance from the Chairman or Company Secretary. |
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| Induction |
|-----------|

| You have already been provided with an introduction to the Company and its businesses and detailed information on a variety of areas plus a directors' information pack. We have also arranged for various site visits and meetings with senior and middle management and the Company's advisors. We will also arrange for you to meet major investors as appropriate. |
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| Review Process |
|----------------|

| The performance of individual directors and the whole Board and its Committees is evaluated annually. If, in the interim, there are any matters which cause you concern about your role you should discuss them with the Chairman as soon as is appropriate. |
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| Insurance |
|-----------|

| The Company has directors' and officers' liability insurance and it is intended to maintain such cover for the full term of your appointment. A summary of the cover is included in your directors' information pack. |
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| Independent Professional Advice                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Occasions may arise when you consider      that you need professional advice in the furtherance of your duties as      a director. Circumstances may occur when it will be appropriate for you      to seek advice from independent advisors at the Company's expense. Please      advise either the Chairman or the Company Secretary should you seek such      advice. The Company will reimburse the full cost of expenditure incurred    in accordance in respect of such advice. |
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| Indemnity                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| In the event that you are made a party      or are threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed      action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or      investigative, by reason of the fact that you are or were a director of      the Company, the Company shall indemnify you against expenses (including      legal fees) actually and reasonably incurred by you in connection with      such action, suit or proceeding and against judgments, fines and amounts      paid in settlement in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to      the fullest extent permitted by the Companies Act 1985 as amended and any      other applicable law or regulation, as from time to time in effect. Such      right of indemnification shall be without prejudice to any other rights    to which you may be entitled. |
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| Governinq Law                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| The agreement contained in      this letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English    law and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. |
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| Entire Aqreement                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| This appointment letter represents      the entire understanding, and constitutes the whole agreement, in relation      to the Appointment and supersedes any previous agreement between yourself    and the Company with respect thereto. |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |
| On a personal level, I am      delighted that you are continuing to serve on the Board of National Grid    Transco plc and I look forward to our continuing working relationship.                                                          |
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| Yours sincerely                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Sir John Parker    Chairman**                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
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| Agreed and Accepted by                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| John Grant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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