**Exhibit 4.4**

----

 

|                             |   |                              |                           |
|----------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------|
| The Company Secretary            |   |                              |                      |
| United Utilities Electricity Plc |   |                              |                           |
| Dawson House                     |   |                              | *Promoting choice and*    |
| Great Sankey                     |   |                              | *value for all customers* |
| Warrington                       |   |                              |                      |
| Cheshire                         |   | Direct Dial:    020 7901 7255     |
| WA5 3LW                          |   | Email: martin.crouch@ofgem.gov.uk |
|                             |   |                              |                      |
|                             |   | 23 March 2005                     |
|                             |   |                              |                      |

Dear Sir/Madam, 

**NOTICE OF MODIFICATION OF THE STANDARD AND SPECIALCONDITIONS OF ALL DISTRIBUTION LICENCES GRANTED OR TREATED AS GRANTED UNDER SECTION6(1)(c) OF THE ELECTRICITY ACT 1989**

Notice has today been published of the Gas and ElectricityMarkets Authority's modification of the standard and (where appropriate) specialconditions of all the electricity distribution licences granted or treated asgranted under section 6(1)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989. These modifications will take effect on 1 April 2005.

Signed and sealed copies of the notices are attached for your records. 

Yours faithfully, 

Martin Crouch Director – Distribution 

|                                                                                                                            |   |   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| ***The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets***                                                                                 |   |        |
| *9 Millbank London SW1P          3GC **Tel** 020    7901 7000  **Fax** 020 7901 7066  **www.ofgem.gov.uk*** |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |

 

----

| **To:** |   |                                                                |
|---------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    |   |                                                                |
| **1.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **Central Networks East plc    (Company No. 2366923)**              |
|    |   | **Westwood Way**                                                    |
|    |   | **Westwood Business Park**                                          |
|    |   | **Coventry**                                                        |
|    |   | **CV4 8LG**                                                         |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **2.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **Central Networks West plc (Company No. 3600574)**                 |
|    |   | **Westwood Way**                                                    |
|    |   | **Westwood Business Park**                                          |
|    |   | **Coventry**                                                        |
|    |   | **CV4 8LG**                                                         |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **3.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **EDE Energy Networks (EPN)    plc (Company No. 2366906)**          |
|    |   | **40 Grosvenor Place**                                              |
|    |   | **Victoria**                                                        |
|    |   | **London**                                                          |
|    |   | **SW1X 7EN**                                                        |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **4.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **EDF Energy Networks (LPN)    plc (Company No. 3929195)**          |
|    |   | **40 Grosvenor Place**                                              |
|    |   | **Victoria**                                                        |
|    |   | **London**                                                          |
|    |   | **SW1X 7EN**                                                        |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **5.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **EDF Energy Networks (SPN)    plc (Company No. 3043097)**          |
|    |   | **40 Grosvenor Place**                                              |
|    |   | **Victoria**                                                        |
|    |   | **London**                                                          |
|    |   | **SW1X 7EN**                                                        |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **6.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **Northern Electric Distribution    Limited (Company No. 2906593)** |
|    |   | **Lloyds Court**                                                    |
|    |   | **78 Grey Street**                                                  |
|    |   | **Newcastle upon Tyne**                                             |
|    |   | **NE1 6AF**                                                         |
|    |   |                                                                |
| **7.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                           |
|    |   | **Yorkshire Electricity Distribution    plc (Company No. 4112320)** |
|    |   | **Lloyds Court**                                                    |
|    |   | **78 Grey Street**                                                  |
|    |   | **Newcastle upon Tyne**                                             |
|    |   | **NE1 6AF**                                                         |

----

| **8.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|---------|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    |   | **Western Power Distribution (South West)    plc (Company No. 2366894)**      |
|    |   | **Avonbank Feeder Road**                                                      |
|    |   | **Bristol**                                                                   |
|    |   | **BS2 0TB**                                                                   |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **9.**  |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **Western Power Distribution (South Wales)    plc (Company No. 2366985)**     |
|    |   | **Avonbank Feeder Road**                                                      |
|    |   | **Bristol**                                                                   |
|    |   | **BS2 0TB**                                                                   |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **10.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **United Utilities Electricity plc (Company    No. 2366949)**                 |
|    |   | **Dawson House**                                                              |
|    |   | **Great Sankey**                                                              |
|    |   | **Warrington**                                                                |
|    |   | **Cheshire**                                                                  |
|    |   | **WA5 3LW**                                                                   |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **11.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **SP Manweb plc (Company No. 2366937)**                                       |
|    |   | **3 Prenton Way**                                                             |
|    |   | **Prenton**                                                                   |
|    |   | **CH43 3ET**                                                                  |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **12.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **SP Distribution Limited (Company No.    SC189125)**                         |
|    |   | **1 Atlantic Quay**                                                           |
|    |   | **Robertson Street**                                                          |
|    |   | **Glasgow**                                                                   |
|    |   | **G2 8SP**                                                                    |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **13.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **Scottish Hydro-Electric Power Distribution Limited (Company No. SC213460)** |
|    |   | **Inveralmond House**                                                         |
|    |   | **200 Dunkeld Road**                                                          |
|    |   | **Perth**                                                                     |
|    |   | **Perthshire**                                                                |
|    |   | **PH1 3AQ**                                                                   |
|    |   |                                                                          |
| **14.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                                     |
|    |   | **Southern Electric Power Distribution    plc (Company No. 4094290)**         |
|    |   | **Southern Electric House**                                                   |
|    |   | **Westacott Way**                                                             |
|    |   | **Littlewick Green**                                                          |
|    |   | **Maidenhead**                                                                |
|    |   | **Berkshire**                                                                 |
|    |   | **SL6 3QB**                                                                   |

----

| **15.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                     |
|---------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|    |   | **Global Utility Connections Limited (Company No. SC234694)** |
|    |   | **Silverwells House**                                         |
|    |   | **114 Cadzow Street**                                         |
|    |   | **Hamilton**                                                  |
|    |   | **ML3 6HP**                                                   |
|    |   |                                                          |
| **16.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                     |
|    |   | **Independent Power Networks Limited (Company No. 04935008)** |
|    |   | **Ocean Park House**                                          |
|    |   | **East Tyndall Street**                                       |
|    |   | **Cardiff**                                                   |
|    |   | **CF24 5GT**                                                  |
|    |   |                                                          |
| **17.** |   | **The Company Secretary**                                     |
|    |   | **Laing Energy Limited (Company No. 4718806)**                |
|    |   | **Bridge Place**                                              |
|    |   | **Anchor Boulevard**                                          |
|    |   | **Admiral Park**                                              |
|    |   | **Crossways**                                                 |
|    |   | **Darford**                                                   |
|    |   | **Kent**                                                      |
|    |   | **DA2 7BL**                                                   |

|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **MODIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 11A OF THE ELECTRICITY ACT 1989 OF THE STANDARD CONDITIONS OF ALL DISTRIBUTION LICENCES GRANTED OR TREATED AS GRANTED UNDER SECTION 6(1)(c) OF THEELECTRICITY ACT 1989** |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| **WHEREAS:**                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |   |   |
| 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                     |   | The      companies to whom this document is addressed ("the Licensees"), all hold      a distribution licence each ("the Licences") granted or treated as granted      by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority ("the Authority") under section    6(1)(c) of the Electricity Act 1989 ("the Act"). |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |   |   |
| 2.                                                                                                                                                                                                     |   | In      accordance with section 11A of the Act the Authority gave notice on 21      February 2005 on its website that it proposed to make the modifications      to the standard conditions of the Licences and specified that any representations      or objections to the proposed modifications must be made within 28 days,    on or before 21 March 2005 |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |   |   |
| 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | The      proposed modifications as set out in the Annexes to the document "Electricity      Distribution Price Control Review, Statutory consultation on the licence      modifications", February 2005, 54/05 ("the consultation document") involve    in summary - |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |   |   |
| (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   | altering the following standard    conditions |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   | (i) |   | Standard condition 1 (Definitions    and interpretation) |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                        |   | (ii) |   | Standard condition 20 (Payments    in relation to standards of performance); |

----

| (b)   |   | altering the following standard conditions:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|            |   | (i)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   | Standard condition 36 (Basis of charges for distributor metering and data services: Requirements for transparency); |
|            |   | (ii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | Standard condition 36A (Non-discrimination in the provision of distributor metering and data services); |
|            |   | (iii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   | Standard condition 36B (Requirement       to offer terms for the provision of electricity distributor metering and    data services); and |
|            |   | (iv)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |   | Standard condition 36C (Functions    of the Authority); |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |   |   |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (c)   |   | altering the following standard conditions:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|            |
|            |   | (i)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |   | Standard condition 42 (Regulatory    accounts); |
|            |   | (ii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | Standard condition 42A (Change of financial year); |
|            |   | (iii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   | Standard condition 43 (Restriction on activity and financial ring fencing); |
|            |   | (iv)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | Standard condition 44 (Availability of resources); |
|            |   | (v)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   | Standard condition 46 (Credit rating of the licensee); |
|            |   | (vi)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | Standard condition 47 (indebtedness); and |
|            |   | (vii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   | Standard condition 49 (Quality of service incentive scheme and associated information); |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (d)   |   | adding and including the following new standard conditions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |   |   |
|            |   | (i)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   | Standard condition 50 (Price control revenue reporting and associated information); |
|            |   | (ii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   | Standard condition 51 (Incentive       Schemes and Associated Information for Distributed Generation, Innovation       Funding and Registered Power Zones); and |
|            |   | (iii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   | Standard condition 52 (Price Control Review Information); |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (e)   |   | making any necessary incidental or consequential modifications to any standard condition or amended standard condition for the accurate and correct numbering and referencing of any suchcondition.                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 4.              |   | In accordance      with section 11A(4) of the Act the Authority sent a copy of the notice      of its intention to make the modifications to the Secretary of State and      did not received by 21 March 2005    or at all, a direction from the Secretary of State not to make any modification;                                                                                            |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 5.              |   | The Authority by      21 March 2005, received seven representations (including six from licensees)      suggesting textual clarification to the proposed modifications and the      Authority has carefully considered the representations and concluded that      much of the suggested clarification falls within section 11A of the Act    and can be incorporated into the modifications. |
|            |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 6.              |   | The Authority did      not receive by 21 March 2005 or at all, a notice of objection from any      of the licensees to the modification set out in theattached Schedule.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|            |

----

**NOW** in accordance with the powers containedin section 11A of the Act the Authority **HEREBY MODIFIES**the standard conditionsin each  and every distribution licence granted or treated as granted under section6(1)(c) of the Act in the manner contained in the attached Schedule **WITH EFFECT**onand from1 April 2005. 

 

|                                       |   |        |
|---------------------------------------|--------|--------|
|                                       |   |
| Martin Crouch,                        |   |
| Director – Distribution          |   |
|                                  |   |
| Authorised on behalf of the Authority |   |
|                                  |   |   |
| 23 March 2005                         |   |   |

 

 

 

----

**The Company SecretaryUnited Utilities Electricity plc (Company No. 2366949)Dawson House Great Sankey Warrington Cheshire WA5 3LW**

| **MODIFICATION         OF CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRIBUTION LICENCE GRANTED UNDER SECTION 6(1)(c)    OF THE ELECTRICITY ACT 1989** |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                            |
| Whereas:                                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                            |
| 1.                                                                                                                              |   | United Utilities Electricity      pic ("the Licensee"), is the holder of a distribution licence ("the Licence")      treated as granted by the Gas andElectricity Markets Authority ("the Authority") under section 6(1)(c) of theElectricity Act 1989 ("the Act"); |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 2.                                                                                                                              |   | In      accordance with section 11 of the Act the Authority gave notice on 21 February      2005 on its website that it proposed to make modifications to the Licence      and specified that representations or objections to the proposed modifications    must be made within 28 days, on or before 21 March 2005. |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 3.                                                                                                                         |   | The      proposed modifications as set out in the Annex to the section 11 notice      in the document "Electricity Distribution Price Control Review, Statutory      consultation on the licence modifications", February 2005, 54/05 ("the    consultation document") involve in summary - |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   | **Part A.** |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   | Omitting, deleting and removing: |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (i). |   | Special condition A (Definitions and interpretation); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (ii). |   | Special condition    B (Restriction of distribution charges); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (iii). |   | Special condition    C (Restriction of distribution charges: adjustments); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (iv). |   | Special condition D (Information to be provided to the Authority in connection with the charge restriction conditions); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (v). |   | Special condition E (Allowance in respect of security costs); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (vi). |   | Special      condition F (Duration of charge restrictionconditions); |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (vii). |   | Special      condition G (Incentive Scheme: Calculation of charge restriction adjustment);    and |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (viii). |   | Schedule A (Supplementary      provisions of the chargerestriction conditions). |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   | **Part B.** |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   | Adding and including: |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (i)    |   | Special condition    A1 – Definitions and interpretation; |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (ii)    |   | Special condition       A2 – Scope of the charge restriction conditions; |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (iii)    |   | Special condition       A3 – Arrangements for the recovery of uncertain costs;  |
|                                                                                                                            |   | (iv) |   | Special condition      A4 – Duration of thecharge restriction conditions; |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                            |   |   |   |   |   |   |

----

 

|           |   | (v)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Special condition B1 – Restriction    of distribution charges: demand use of****system charges;                                                                     |
|----------------|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |   | (vi)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Special condition B2 – Restriction of distribution charges: allowed pass-through items;                                                                             |
|           |   | (vii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Special condition       B3 – Restriction of distribution charges: total incentive revenue    adjustment;                                                            |
|           |   | (viii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Special condition C1 – Calculation      of charge restriction adjustments arising from the distribution losses    incentive scheme;                                 |
|           |   | (ix)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Special condition      C2 – Calculation of charge restriction adjustments arising from performance    in respect of the quality of service;                         |
|           |   | (x)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Special condition C3 – Calculation of charge restriction adjustment arising from the innovation funding incentive scheme;                                           |
|           |   | (xi)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Special condition D1 – Restriction of distribution charges: generation use of system charges;                                                                       |
|           |   | (xii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Special condition D2 – Calculation       of charge restriction adjustments arising from incentive schemes for distributed    generation and registered power zones; |
|           |   | (xiii)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | Special condition E1 – Charge    restriction conditions: supplementary restrictions;                                                                                |
|           |   | (xiv)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Special condition F1 – Restriction of basic metering charges; and                                                                                                   |
|           |   | (xv)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | Special condition G1 – Restriction       of distribution charges outside the distribution services area.                                                            |
|           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                      |
|           |   | **Part C**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|           |   | Making any incidental or consequential      modifications to any special condition, standard condition or amended standard      condition for the accurate and correct numbering and referencing of any    such condition.                                                                                                                                       |
|           |
| 4.   |   | In accordance with section 11(4) of the Act the Authority sent a copy of the notice of its proposal to make the modifications to the Secretary of State and did not receive by 21 March2005 or at all, a direction from the Secretary of State not to make any modification.                                                                                     |
|           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                      |
| 5.   |   | The Authority       received by 21 March 2005, six representations suggesting textual clarification       to the proposed modifications and the Authority has carefully considered       the representations and concluded that much of the suggested clarification       falls within section 11 of the Act and can be  incorporated into the    modifications. |
|           |   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 6.   |   | The Licensee has    given its consent to the modifications set out in the attached Schedule.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|           |

----

**NOW** in accordance with the powers containedin section 11 of the Act and with the consent of the Licensee, the Authority **HEREBYMODIFIES**the special conditions of the Licensee's licence in the manner containedin the attached Schedule **WITH EFFECT**onand froml 1 April 2005. 

|                                       |   |        |
|---------------------------------------|--------|--------|
|                                       |   |
| Martin Crouch,                        |   |
| Director – Distribution          |   |
|                                  |   |
| Authorised on behalf of the Authority |   |
|                                  |   |   |
| 23 March 2005                         |   |   |