Document:

EXHIBIT 10.16c

                            UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
                      1999 AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK PLAN

1.       INTRODUCTION.
         -------------

         (a) Purpose. The purpose of the UIL Holdings Corporation 1999 Amended
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and Restated Stock Plan ("the Plan") is to promote the profitability of UIL
Holdings Corporation ("the Company") and its Subsidiaries by providing members
of the Boards of Directors, officers and certain key employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries with incentives to contribute to the success of the Company
and by enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best available
Directors and managerial employees. The Plan, known prior to March 24, 2003 as
The United Illuminating Company 1999 Stock Option Plan was originally effective
on March 22, 1999 (the "Original Effective Date"). This restated Plan shall be
effective as of March 24, 2003 (the "Restatement Effective Date").

         On and after the Original Effective Date, the Administrator shall have
the authority to grant Nonqualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options in
accordance with the terms of the Plan. On and after the Restatement Effective
Date, the Administrator shall also have the authority to grant Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance
Shares.

         (b) Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall
             -----------
have the following meanings:

         "Administrator" shall mean the committee designated by the Board of
Directors to administer the Plan, as provided in Section 2 of this Plan.

         "Award" means any award, grant or benefit provided under the Plan,
including without limitation, any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or Performance Share.

         "Award Agreement" means any written agreement or other document
evidencing an Award granted under the Plan. The terms of any plan or guideline
adopted by the Board or the Administrator, which is applicable to an Award,
shall be deemed incorporated into this Plan by reference.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time, or any successor code.

         "Covered Award" means an Award, other than an Option or other Award
with an exercise price per Share not less than the Fair Market Value of a Share
on the date of grant of such Award, to a Covered Employee, if it is designated
as such by the Administrator at the time it is granted. Covered Awards are
subject to the provisions of Section 11 of this Plan.

         "Covered Employees" means Participants who are designated by the
Administrator prior to the grant of an Award who are, or are expected to be at
the time taxable income will be realized with respect to the Award, "covered
employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         "Employee" shall mean an Employee of the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries.

         "Fair Market Value" on any date shall be the average of the high and
low sales price of shares of Common Stock on The New York Stock Exchange
composite tape, or such other recognized market source as may be designated by
the Administrator from time to time, on such date. If there is no sale on such
date, then such average price on the last previous day on which a sale is
reported shall govern.

         "Incentive Stock Option" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
422 of the Code and shall be granted only to Employees.

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         "Nonqualified Stock Option" shall be any option to purchase from the
Company a share of its no par value Common Stock ("Common Stock") other than an
Incentive Stock Option. Any Option granted to a Director and any other
individual who is not an Employee shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

         "Optionee" shall mean a Participant to whom Incentive or Nonqualified
Stock Options are granted under the terms of the Plan.

         "Participant" shall mean any Employee or Director of the Company or a
Subsidiary granted an Award under the Plan.

         "Performance Goals" means one or more objective performance goals,
established by the Administrator at the time an Award is granted, and based upon
the attainment of targets for one or any combination of the following criteria,
which may be determined solely by reference to the Company's performance or the
performance of a Subsidiary (or any business unit) or based on comparative
performance relative to other companies: (i) net income; (ii) earnings before
income taxes; (iii) earnings per share; (iv) return on stockholders' equity; (v)
expense management; (vi) profitability of an identifiable business unit or
product; (vii) revenue growth; (viii) earnings growth; (ix) cash flow; (x)
return on assets; (xi) pre-tax operating income; (xii) net economic profit
(operating earnings minus a charge for capital); (xiii) customer satisfaction;
(xiv) employee satisfaction; (xv) strategic innovation; or (xvi) any combination
of the foregoing. Performance Goals shall be set by the Administrator within the
time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code.

         "Performance Share" means any grant of a right to receive Shares that
is contingent on the achievement of performance or other objectives during a
specified period.

         "Released Securities" shall mean securities that were restricted, with
respect to which all applicable restrictions have expired, lapsed, been
satisfied or been waived.

         "Restricted Stock" means any grant of Shares, and "Restricted Stock
Unit" means the grant of a right to receive Shares in the future, with such
Shares or right to future delivery of such Shares being subject to a risk of
forfeiture or other restriction that will lapse upon the achievement of one or
more goals relating to the completion of service by the Participant, or
achievement of some performance or other objectives, all as determined by the
Administrator in accordance with Section 5(c) of the Plan.

         "Shares" means the Common Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation and such
other securities or property as may become the subject to Awards pursuant to an
adjustment made under Section 6 or 8 of the Plan.

         "Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SAR" means any right to the
appreciation in underlying Shares as provided for in Section 5(b) of the Plan.

         "Stock Options" or "Options" shall refer collectively to Incentive
Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options.

         "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" of the Company shall mean one or more
corporations, a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock of which is
owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

2.       ADMINISTRATION.
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         The Plan shall be administered by a committee of the Company's Board of
Directors, as it may be constituted from time to time, which committee shall
consist of no fewer than three members and shall not include any member of said
Board who is, or within twelve (12) months prior to the exercise of any
discretion under this Plan has been, an employee of the Company or its
Subsidiaries. Each member of the committee shall be an "outside director" as
such term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Code and a "non-employee director"
under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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         The Administrator shall have full power and authority to interpret the
Plan and any Award Agreement issued thereunder, and may, from time to time,
prescribe, adopt, amend and rescind any rules and regulations it deems
appropriate for the administration of the Plan and for the continued
qualification under the Code of any Incentive Stock Option issued hereunder.
Decisions of the Administrator on all matters relating to the Plan shall be
conclusive and binding on the Company, its shareowners and Plan Participants.

         The Administrator shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate
Participants; (ii) determine Awards to be granted to Participants; (iii)
determine the number of Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) to be
covered by Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v)
determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be
settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other
property, or canceled, substituted, exercised, provided that no such action will
result in the repricing of Options; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and
under what circumstances Awards (other than Awards of Stock Options), and
amounts payable in cash, Shares or other property with respect to an Award, may
be deferred automatically or at the election of the Participant or the
Administrator; and (vii) determine or take any other action that it deems
necessary or advisable for proper administration of the Plan.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, neither the
Administrator, nor the Board, may reprice, replace or regrant any Option granted
under the Plan (i) through cancellation and replacement or regrant with lower
priced options, or (ii) by lowering the option exercise price of a previously
granted Award, without the prior approval of Company shareowners.

         The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, and any rules and
regulations relating thereto, shall be determined in accordance with the laws of
Connecticut and applicable federal law.

3.       SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN.
         -----------------------------

         Subject to the adjustments prescribed in Sections 6 and 8, a maximum of
1,350,000 Shares are available for granting Awards under the Plan (the "Plan
Maximum"). Of the Plan Maximum, no more than 200,000 Shares may be issued
pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance
Share Awards. Only Shares relating to Awards actually issued or granted
hereunder shall be counted against the Plan Maximum. If any Award granted under
the Plan expires, is forfeited, cancelled, terminates unexercised or, for any
reason, becomes unexercisable, the Shares represented by such Award shall
thereafter be available for further grants under the Plan and shall not count
against the Plan Maximum. Any Shares covered by an Award that are not delivered
because the Award is settled in cash or used to satisfy the applicable tax
withholding obligation shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes
of determining the Plan Maximum. If the exercise price of any Award is paid by
the Participant surrendering a Share of Common Stock, either by actual delivery
or by attestation, only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered
shall be deemed purchased for purposes of calculating the Plan Maximum.

4.       PARTICIPATION AND DETERMINATION OF AWARDS.
         -----------------------------------------

         The Administrator shall, from time to time, select those members of the
Board of Directors, officers and key full-time Employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to whom Awards shall be granted, and shall determine:

         (i) the number of Shares issued pursuant to Awards; provided that with
respect to any Participant, no more than 150,000 Shares may be subject to Awards
of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in any calendar year, and no more than
50,000 Shares may be subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights granted during any calendar-year period (regardless of when such Shares
are deliverable);

         (ii) the terms and conditions of any Award, including, without
limitation, whether Stock Options shall be Nonqualified or Incentive Stock
Options, or some combination thereof, the periods within which such Stock
Options shall be exercisable, and whether any such Stock Option shall include a
right to purchase an additional share of Common Stock (a "Reload Right")
contingent upon the Optionee having exercised such Stock Option and having paid
the exercise price in full by surrendering, either actually, or by attestation,
a share or shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of the
exercise equal to the exercise price of such Stock Option;

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         (iii) the extent to which Awards may be settled or exercised in cash or
Shares, other securities or other property, or canceled, substituted or
forfeited;

         (iv) the extent to which, and under what circumstances, Shares (other
than those attributable to the exercise of Stock Options) shall be deferred
either automatically or at the election of the Participant.

         A grant of an Award at any time to a Participant shall neither
guarantee nor preclude a grant to such Participant at any later time.

         Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those members of the
Board of Directors, officers and key full-time Employees selected by the
Administrator in its sole discretion. Members of the Board of Directors and any
other individuals who are not Employees shall not be eligible to receive
Incentive Stock Options.

         Nothing in the Plan or in any Award granted shall confer any right on
an Employee to continue in the employ of the Company or shall interfere in any
way with the right of the Company to terminate an Employee's employment at any
time.

5.       TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS.
         ------------------------------

         (A) OPTIONS.  The Stock Options granted shall be subject to the
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following terms and conditions:

         (i) Exercise Price of Stock Options. Regardless of whether the Stock
             -------------------------------
Option granted is a Nonqualified or Incentive Stock Option, the purchase price
per Share deliverable upon the exercise of each Stock Option shall not be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of Shares of Common Stock on the date the
Stock Option is granted or, in the case of a Stock Option arising from the
exercise of a Reload Right, on the date that the Reload Right is exercised. No
Stock Option may be repriced by the Administrator. In the case of the grant of
any Incentive Stock Option to an Optionee who, at the time of the grant, owns
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the option exercise price per share shall
not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock on the
date the Stock Option is granted or, in the case of a Reload Right, on the date
that the Reload Right is exercised.

         (ii) The exercise price of a Stock Option shall be payable in cash or
by the Optionee's surrendering, either actually or by attestation, shares of
Common Stock, which were held by the Optionee for at least a six-month period at
the time the Stock Option is exercised and having a Fair Market Value on the
date of exercise equal to the exercise price of such Stock Option, or in any
combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator.

         (iii) Term and Exercisability of Stock Options. The Administrator
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shall determine the period within which each Stock Option granted shall be
exercisable and may provide that a number of Stock Options shall become
exercisable in installments; provided, however, that

         (1)      except as provided in Section 7 of this Plan, in no event
                  shall any Stock Option be exercisable less than one year, or
                  more than ten years, from the date it is granted;

         (2)      except as provided in Section 7 of this Plan, no more than
                  one-third of the number of Stock Options granted to an
                  Optionee on any date may first become exercisable in any
                  twelve-month period;

         (3)      in the case of the grant of an Incentive Stock Option to an
                  Optionee who, at the time of the grant, owns more than 10% of
                  the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
                  Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in no event shall such
                  Stock Option be exercisable more than five years from the date
                  of the grant;

         (4)      in the case of Incentive Stock Options, except as provided in
                  Section 7 of this Plan, the number of Stock Options granted to
                  an Optionee on any date that may first become exercisable in
                  any calendar year shall be limited to $100,000 divided by the
                  exercise price per Stock Option, as determined in accordance
                  with Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury regulations
                  issued thereunder; and

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         (5)      a Stock Option arising from the exercise of a Reload Right
                  shall become exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the
                  date when the Reload Right was exercised and shall expire on
                  the same date on which the Stock Option from which it arose
                  would have expired if it had not been exercised.

         (iv) Continued Employment. Except as otherwise provided in subsection
              --------------------
(vi) of this Section 5, an Employee who is an Optionee may exercise a Stock
Option only (i) if he or she is, and has continuously been since the date the
Stock Option was granted, a full-time Employee.

         (v)  Shareowner Rights. Prior to the exercise of a Stock Option and
              -----------------
delivery of the Common Stock shares purchased thereby, the Optionee shall have
no right to dividends nor be entitled to voting or any other rights on account
of such Stock Option.

         (vi) Exercisability of Options Upon Certain Events. Upon the
              ---------------------------------------------
termination of an Optionee's service as a Director of the Company, or of an
Employee-Optionee's full-time employment, as a result of retirement, death or
disability, all Stock Options of the Optionee that have not expired or been
exercised, shall become immediately exercisable. Upon the termination of an
Employee-Optionee's full-time employment for any other reason, including but not
limited to voluntary or involuntary termination, all of the Optionee's Stock
Options that are not then exercisable shall automatically expire. An
Employee-Optionee shall be considered "retired" or "disabled" for purposes of
the Plan if he or she is entitled to a service pension, disability pension,
disability benefit or disability allowance under the Company's pension or
disability plan and a Director shall be deemed "retired" or "disabled" if so
determined by the Administrator.

         (1)      Upon Death. If an Optionee's service as a Director, or an
                  ----------
                  Employee-Optionee's full-time employment, is terminated by
                  death, such Optionee's legal representative or successor by
                  bequest or the laws of descent and distribution (each a
                  "Successor in Interest") may exercise, in whole or in part,
                  Stock Options exercisable by such Optionee on the date of his
                  or her death, from time to time within one year after such
                  Optionee's date of death.

         (2)      Upon Retirement, or Termination Due to Disability. If an
                  -------------------------------------------------
                  Optionee's full-time employment, or service as a Director, is
                  terminated due to retirement or disability, such Optionee, or
                  his or her guardian or Successor in Interest, may exercise, in
                  whole or in part: (A) Nonqualified Stock Options exercisable
                  by such Optionee on the date of termination of his or her
                  full-time employment (or service, in the case of a Director),
                  from time to time within three years after such date; and (B)
                  Incentive Stock Options exercisable by such Employee-Optionee
                  on the date of his or her retirement, from time to time within
                  three months after such date.

         (3)      Upon Voluntary or Involuntary Termination of Service. Upon a
                  ----------------------------------------------------
                  voluntary or involuntary termination of an Employee-Optionee's
                  full-time employment, or upon a Director's termination of
                  service as a Director, due to any cause other than the death,
                  retirement or disability, such Optionee, or his or her
                  Successor in Interest, may exercise, in whole or in part: (A)
                  Nonqualified Stock Options exercisable by such Optionee on the
                  date of termination of his or her full-time employment (or
                  service as a Director), from time to time within five months
                  after such date; and (B) Incentive Stock Options exercisable
                  by such Employee-Optionee on such date, from time to time
                  within three months after such date; provided, however, that
                  if an Employee-Optionee or Director is terminated for cause
                  (as determined by the Administrator), or if an
                  Employee-Optionee, at any time after his or her voluntary or
                  involuntary termination of full-time employment, engages in
                  any occupation or business that, in the opinion of the
                  Administrator, is a competitor of the Company or any of its
                  Subsidiaries, all of such Optionee's unexercised Stock Options
                  may be canceled by the Administrator.

         (B) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Administrator is authorized to
             -------------------------
grant Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARs") to Participants which may, but need
not, relate to a specific Option granted under the Plan. Subject to the terms of
the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, each Stock Appreciation Right
granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive,
upon exercise thereof, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on
the date of exercise over (ii) the exercise price of the SAR, which shall not be
less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of the grant of the
Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the terms of the Plan and

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any applicable Award Agreement, the exercise price, term, methods of exercise,
methods of payment or settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any
Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Administrator, but in no
event shall the term of a Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten years
from the date of its grant. Settlement of SARs may be made in cash, in Shares of
Stock (valued at Fair Market Value at the date of exercise), or in a combination
thereof, as determined by the Administrator.

         (C) RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.
             ----------------------------------------

         (i)  Issuance. The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of
              --------
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares to Participants
in such amounts, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Administrator
shall determine.

        (ii)  Restrictions. Any such Award shall be subject to such conditions
              ------------
and restrictions as the Administrator may impose (including, without limitation,
any limitation on the right to vote Restricted Stock or to receive dividends),
which may lapse at such time as the Administrator may deem appropriate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to the provisions of Section 7, any
Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units as to which the sole
restriction relates the passage of time and continued service shall have a
continued service requirement of not fewer than three (3) years from the date of
grant; and a period of not less than one (1) year after the grant for an Award
that is based on the attainment of Performance Goals. Subject to the previous
sentence, a Participant's interest in Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units awarded will vest only at the close of business on the date on which the
vesting date occurs (as specified in his Award Agreement). Restricted Stock
Units shall carry no voting rights.

         (iii) Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. An Award of Restricted
               ----------------------------------
Stock or Restricted Stock Units may provide the Participant with the right to
receive dividend payments or, in the case of Restricted Stock Units, amounts
equivalent to cash dividends ("Dividend Equivalents") with respect to Shares
subject to the Award, which payments may, in the Administrator's discretion,
either be made currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may
be settled in cash or Shares, all as determined by the Administrator. Unless
otherwise determined by the Administrator with respect to a particular Award,
each outstanding Restricted Stock Unit shall accrue Dividend Equivalents,
deferred in cash, which amounts will be paid only when and if the Restricted
Stock Unit (on which such Dividend Equivalents were accrued) vests. To the
extent that a Restricted Stock Unit does not vest or is otherwise forfeited,
any accrued and unpaid Dividend Equivalents shall be forfeited.

         (iv) Termination of Employment.
              -------------------------

                  (1) Due to Death; Disability or Retirement or Termination with
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
the Company's Consent. Any Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Units, not yet
---------------------
vested as of the date that a Participant's employment (or service as a Director)
terminates due to death, disability, or retirement or termination with the
consent of the Company, then any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units (and
any related Dividend Equivalents) not yet vested shall continue to vest. Any
vested portion of a Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be paid as soon as
practicable, subject to the provisions of the Plan. An Employee who is a in
receipt of a Restrict Stock or Restrict Stock Unit Award shall be considered
"retired" or "disabled" for purposes of the Plan if he or she is entitled to a
service pension, disability pension, disability benefit or disability allowance
under the Company's pension or disability plan and a Director shall be deemed
"retired" or "disabled" if so determined by the Administrator.

                  (2) For Cause or Without the Company's Consent. Any Restricted
                      ------------------------------------------
Stock or Restricted Stock Units, not yet vested as of the date that a
Participant's employment (or service as a Director) terminates for cause, or
without the Company's consent, as determined by the Administrator, shall be
forfeited and cancelled upon such termination of service.

         (D) OTHER STOCK BASED AWARDS. The Administrator is hereby authorized to
             ------------------------
grant to Participants Performance Awards that are denominated or payable in,
valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Shares
(including without limitation securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed
by the Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan; provided,
however, that such grants must comply with Rule 16b-3 and applicable law. The
Administrator shall designate whether any such Awards are intended to be
"performance-based compensation" as that term is used in Section 162(m) of the
Code. Any Award so designated shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or
more Performance Goals. For Awards intended to be

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<PAGE>

"performance-based compensation", the grant of the Awards and the establishment
of the performance measures shall be made during the period required under Code
Section 162(m).

         (i)  If applicable, Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a
purchase right granted under this Section 5(d) shall be purchased for such
consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or
forms, including without limitation cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards
or other property, or any combination thereof.

         (ii) In granting any Performance Based Award pursuant to this
Section 5(d), the Administrator shall also determine what effect the termination
of employment of the Participant holding such Award shall have on the rights of
the Participant pursuant to the Award.

         (iii) The Administrator shall determine whether all or part of the
conditions to payment of a Performance Share Award have been fulfilled and, if
so, the amount of the payment to which the Participant is entitled.

         (E) DEFERRAL. The Administrator, in an Award Agreement or otherwise,
             --------
may permit a Participant to defer the delivery of Shares of Stock that otherwise
would be due to such Participant upon the satisfaction, lapse or waiver of
restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock. Such deferrals shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of the UIL Holdings Deferred Compensation Plan,
as amended from time to time, or any successor or substitute plan.

         (F) GENERAL PROVISIONS. The following general provisions shall apply to
             ------------------
all Awards granted hereunder, subject to the terms of other sections of this
Plan or any Award Agreement.

         (i)      Award Agreements. Each Award granted under this Plan shall be
                  ----------------
                  evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify the
                  relevant material terms and conditions of the Award and which
                  shall be signed by the Participant receiving such Award, if so
                  indicated by the Award.

         (ii)     Rule 16b-3 Six Month Limitations.  To the extent necessary in
                  -----------------------------------
                  order to have the grant of an Award, the exercise of an Award
                  or any derivative security, or the sale of securities
                  corresponding to an Award, be considered to be an exempt
                  transaction under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
                  of 1934, any equity security granted under the Plan to a
                  Participant must be held by such Participant for at least six
                  months from the date of grant, or in the case of a derivative
                  security granted pursuant to the Plan to a Participant, at
                  least six months must elapse from the date of acquisition of
                  the derivative security to the date of disposition of the
                  derivative security (other than upon exercise or conversion)
                  or its underlying equity security.  Terms used in the
                  preceding sentence shall, for the purposes of such sentence
                  only, have the meanings if any, assigned or attributed to them
                  under Rule 16b-3.

         (iii)    Limits on Transfer of Awards.  No Award (other than Released
                  -----------------------------
                  Securities), and no right under any such Award may be
                  assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, encumbered, sold,or
                  transferred by a Participant other than by will or by the laws
                  of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic
                  relations order (or, in the case of Awards that are forfeited
                  or canceled, to the Company).  Any purported assignment, sale,
                  transfer, thereof shall be void and unenforceable.  If the
                  Administrator so indicates in writing to a Participant, he or
                  she may designate one or more beneficiaries who may exercise
                  the rights of the Participant and receive any property
                  distributable with respect to any Award upon the death of the
                  Participant.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or
                  in an Award Agreement, each Award, and each right under any
                  Award,shall be exercisable, during the Participant's lifetime
                  only by the Participant or, if permissible under applicable
                  law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative or
                  by a transferee receiving such Award pursuant to a domestic
                  relations order referred to above.

         (iv)     No Cash Consideration for Awards. Awards may be granted for no
                  --------------------------------
                  cash consideration, or for such minimal cash consideration as
                  the Administrator may specify, or as may be required by
                  applicable law.

         (v)      Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together.  Awards may, in
                  --------------------------------------------
                  the discretion of the Administrator, be granted either alone
                  or in addition to, in tandem  with, or in substitution for
                  any,

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<PAGE>

                  other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the
                  Company or any Subsidiary.  Awards granted in addition to or
                  in tandem with other Awards or in addition to or in tandem
                  with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any
                  Subsidiary may be granted either at the same time as or at a
                  different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
                  Performance Awards and Awards which are not Performance Awards
                  may be granted to the same Participant.

         (vi)     Forms Of Payment Under Awards.  Subject to the terms of the
                  --------------------------------
                  Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or
                  transfers to be made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the
                  grant, exercise, or  payment of an Award may be made in such
                  form or forms as the Administrator shall determine, including,
                  without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other
                  Awards, or other property, or any combination thereof, and may
                  be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or
                  on a deferred  basis, in each case in accordance with rules
                  and procedures established by the Administrator.  Such rules
                  and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for
                  the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment
                  or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend
                  Equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments.

         (vii)    Term of Awards. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan
                  --------------
                  (with respect, for example, to Awards with specific term
                  limitations), the term of each Award shall be for such period
                  as may be determined by the Administrator.

         (viii)   Share Certificates.  All certificates for Shares or other
                  -------------------
                  securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or
                  the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer
                  orders and other restrictions as the Administrator may deem
                  advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other
                  requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any
                  stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are
                  then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities
                  laws, and the Administrator may cause a legend or legends to
                  be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference
                  to such restrictions.  Unrestricted certificates representing
                  Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall
                  deem appropriate, shall be delivered to the holder of
                  Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or any other relevant
                  Award promptly after such related Shares shall become Released
                  Securities.

         (ix)    Transfers within Controlled Group; Leaves of Absence. Transfer
                 ----------------------------------------------------
                 from the Company to a Subsidiary, from a Subsidiary to the
                 Company, and from one Subsidiary to another, shall not be
                 considered a termination of employment. Nor shall it be
                 considered a termination of employment if a Participant is
                 placed on a military or sick leave or such other leave of
                 absence, which is considered as continuing intact the
                 employment relationship; in such a case, the employment
                 relationship shall be continued until the date when an
                 employee's right to reemployment shall no longer be guaranteed
                 either by law or by contract.

         (x)     Listing, Registration and/or Approvals.  Each Award granted
                 ------------------------------------------
                 shall be subject to the requirement that if at any time the
                 Administrator determines it is necessary or desirable to list,
                 register or qualify any shares of Common Stock subject to such
                 Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or
                 federal law, or to obtain the consent or approval of any
                 governmental regulatory body as a condition of, or in
                 connection with, the granting of such Award or the issue or
                 purchase of shares of Common Stock thereunder, no such Award
                 may be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing,
                 registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have
                 been effected or obtained, free of any conditions not
                 acceptable to the Administrator.

6.       ADJUSTMENTS.
         -----------

         In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
or extraordinary cash dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation,
distribution of assets, or any other change in the corporate structure or shares
of the Company, such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or any
outstanding Award, the Administrator shall make such adjustments as it deems
appropriate in the number and kind of shares which may be purchased pursuant to
the Plan, in (i) the number or kind of Shares available for the

                                       8
<PAGE>

future granting of Awards hereunder, (ii) the number and kind of Shares covered
by the Awards granted, and (iii) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with
respect to any Award; provided, however, that with respect to an Incentive Stock
Option no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such would
cause the termination of the Incentive Stock Option treatment pursuant to
applicable Code requirements. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other
reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving or continuing entity,
all Awards granted hereunder and outstanding on the date of such event shall be
assumed by the surviving or continuing entity. In the event of any
reorganization in which all of the shares of the Company's Common Stock are
exchanged for shares of the common stock of another corporation, all Awards
granted hereunder and outstanding on the effective date of the share exchange
shall be automatically converted into Awards of the other corporation on
identical terms, and the other corporation shall assume this Plan, or if the
Administrator deems such action appropriate, it may provide for a cash payment
to the holder of an outstanding Award.

7.       ACCELERATION UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL.
         -------------------------------------

         (a) Except as the Board of Directors or the Administrator may expressly
provide otherwise prior to a Change in Control of the Company, (as defined in
Subsection 7(b) below) in the event of a Change in Control of the Company);

         (i) All Options and Stock Appreciation Rights then outstanding shall
become immediately and fully exercisable, notwithstanding any provision therein
for the exercise of installments;

         (ii) All restrictions and conditions of all Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units then outstanding shall be deemed satisfied as of the date
of the Change of Control; and

         (iii) All Performance Share Awards shall become vested, deemed earned
in full and promptly paid to the Participants, without regard to payment
schedules and notwithstanding that the applicable performance cycle or retention
cycle shall not have been completed.

         (b) "Change in Control" of the Company shall mean any of the following
events, with the term "Company" being used in this definition to refer also to a
Change in Control of any Subsidiary, with respect to each Participant employed
by such Subsidiary:

         (i) Any merger or consolidation of such Company with any corporate
shareowner or group of corporate shareowners holding twenty-five percent (25%)
or more of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation (or a successor to UIL
Holdings Corporation, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise - a "Successor"), or with any other corporation or
group of corporations that is, or after such merger or consolidation would be,
or be affiliated with, a shareowner or group of shareowners owning at least
twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation or a
Successor, or

         (ii) Any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition of any assets of such Company having an aggregate fair market value
of $50 million or more to or with any shareowner or group of shareowners holding
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings
Corporation or a Successor, or to or with any affiliate of any such shareowner
or group of shareowners; or

         (iii) The issuance or sale by such Company, or the sale by UIL Holdings
Corporation or a Successor, in exchange for cash, securities or other
consideration having an aggregate fair market value of $50 million or more, of
any securities of such Company to any shareowner or group of shareowners holding
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings
Corporation or a Successor, or to any affiliate of any such shareowner or group
of shareowners; or

         (iv) The implementation of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of such Company, or of UIL Holdings Corporation or a Successor,
proposed by or on behalf of any shareowner or group of shareowners owning at
least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation
or a Successor, or by or on behalf of any affiliate of any such shareowner or
group of shareowners; or

         (v) Any reclassification of securities (including a reverse stock
split), or recapitalization, of UIL Holdings Corporation or a Successor, or any
other transaction, which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing
the

                                       9
<PAGE>

proportionate share of outstanding shares of any class of equity securities,
or securities convertible into any equity securities, of UIL Holdings
Corporation or a Successor, which class of securities is directly or indirectly
owned by a shareowner or group of shareowners owning at least twenty-five
percent (25%) of the Common Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation or a Successor, or
by any affiliate of any such shareowner or group of shareowners.

         The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, by the
affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of said
Board of Directors, at a meeting of said Board of Directors called and held for
the purpose, modify the phrase "twenty-five percent (25%)" in one or more of the
foregoing subparagraphs to a lesser percentage, but not less than twenty percent
(20%).

8.       TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION.
         ----------------------------

         (a) Of the Plan. Unless previously terminated, the Plan shall terminate
             -----------
on March 21, 2009. The Administrator, without approval of the shareowners of the
Company, may modify or terminate the Plan and from time to time may suspend, and
if suspended, may reinstate any or all of the provisions of the Plan, except
that no such modification or termination of the Plan may, without the consent of
an Award holder, alter or impair any Award previously granted under the Plan and
that no modification shall become effective without prior approval of the Common
Stock shareowners of the Company that would: (a) increase (except in the case of
a readjustment of the Common Stock or a recapitalization) the maximum number of
shares for which an Award may be granted under the Plan; (b) reduce the option
price that may be established under the Plan; (c) extend the maximum option term
under the Plan beyond ten years, or (d) change the Plan's eligibility
requirements.

         (b) Amendments to Awards. The Administrator may waive any conditions or
             --------------------
rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel
or terminate, any Award heretofore granted without the consent of any relevant
Participant or holder or beneficiary of an Award; provided, however, that no
such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or
termination that would be adverse to the holder of such Award may be made
without such holder's consent after a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Administrator shall not amend any outstanding Option or SAR to
change the exercise price thereof to any price that is lower than the original
exercise price thereof except in connection with an adjustment authorized under
Section 6.

         (c) Adjustments of Awards Upon Certain Acquisitions. In the event the
             -----------------------------------------------
Company or a Subsidiary shall issue substitute Awards, the Administrator may
make such adjustments, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, in the terms
of Awards as it shall deem appropriate in order to achieve reasonable
comparability or other equitable relationship between the assumed awards and the
substitute Awards granted under the Plan.

         (d) Adjustments of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or
             ---------------------------------------------------------------
Nonrecurring Events. The Administrator shall be authorized to make adjustments
-------------------
in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation,
the events described in Section 6 hereof) affecting the Company, any Affiliate,
or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in
applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the
Administrator determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to
prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits to be made
available under the Plan or an Award Agreement.

         (e) Correction of Defects, Omissions, and Inconsistencies. The
             -----------------------------------------------------
Administrator may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any
inconsistency in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall
deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

9.       GENERAL PROVISIONS.
         ------------------

         (a) No Rights to Awards.  No Employee, Participant or Director shall
             -------------------
have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no
obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants, Directors or
holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of
Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

         (b) Withholding.  The Company (or, if applicable, any Subsidiary) shall
             -----------
be authorized to withhold from any grant of an Award, exercise of an Award or
any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under

                                       10
<PAGE>

the Plan, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other
property) of all applicable withholding taxes due in respect of an Award, its
exercise, or any payment or transfer under such Award or under the Plan and to
take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company or
Subsidiary to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

         (c) No Limit on Other Compensation Agreement. Nothing contained in the
             ----------------------------------------
Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing in
effect other or additional compensation arrangements and such arrangements may
be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

         (d) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be
             ----------------------
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or any Subsidiary. Further, the Company or a Subsidiary may at any time
dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim
under the Plan, unless otherwise any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

         (e) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan
             -------------
and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut and applicable federal law.

         (f) Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or
             ------------
becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any
Award under any law deemed applicable by the Administrator, such provision shall
be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be
so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the
Administrator, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such
provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person, or Award and the
remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

         (g) No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall
             ------------------------
create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a
fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other
Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from
the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be that of an unsecured
general creditor of the Company.

         (h) No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Share shall be issued or
             --------------------
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Administrator shall
determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or
transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares, or whether such fractional Shares
or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

         (i) Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of the
             --------
Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be
deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of
the Plan or any provision thereof.

10.      EFFECTIVE DATE.
         --------------

         The effective date of this restated Plan shall be March 24, 2003.
However, if the Plan is not approved by shareowners of the Company within twelve
(12) months thereafter, the restated Plan and any and all Awards granted
thereunder shall be null and void.

11.      PARTICIPANTS SUBJECT TO SECTION 162(M).
         --------------------------------------

         (a) Applicability. The provisions of this Section 11 shall be
             -------------
applicable to all Covered Awards. Covered Awards shall be made subject to the
achievement of one or more pre-established Performance Goals, in accordance with
procedures to be established by the Administrator from time to time.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator
shall not, other than upon a Change in Control, have discretion to waive or
amend such Performance Goals, decrease the exercise price with respect to a
Stock Option or, except as provided in Section 6 or Section 8, to increase the
number of Shares subject to Covered Awards or the amount payable pursuant to
Covered Awards after the Performance Goals have been established; provided,
however, that the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, reduce the number
of Shares subject to Covered Awards

                                       11
<PAGE>

or the amount which would otherwise be payable pursuant to Covered Awards; and
provided, further, that the provisions of Section 8 shall override any contrary
provision of this Section 11.

         (b) Certification. No shares shall be delivered and no payment shall be
             -------------
made pursuant to a Covered Award unless and until the Administrator shall have
certified in writing that the applicable Performance Goals have been attained.

         (c) Procedures. The Administrator may from time to time establish
             ----------
procedures pursuant to which Covered Employees will be permitted or required to
defer receipt of amounts payable under Awards (other than Awards of Stock
Options) made under the Plan.

                                       12EXHIBIT 10.20

                            UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

               (AS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 27, 2003,
                  REFLECTING AMENDMENTS THROUGH MARCH 24, 2003)

<PAGE>

                            UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION
                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                                  INTRODUCTION
                                  ------------

         UIL Holdings Corporation (the "Company") hereby establishes the UIL
Holdings Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan to provide a select group of its
senior management, and those of its selected Business Units, with the
opportunity to accumulate capital by deferring compensation on a pre-tax basis,
and to provide the Company with a method of rewarding and retaining its top
executives and managerial employees.

         The purpose of this Plan also is to permit those eligible executive
employees whose matching allocations under the United Illuminating Company
401(k)/Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("UI KSOP") would be limited by virtue of
their Compensation Deferrals under this Plan, with certain supplemental benefits
to make up for such limitations.

         The Plan, as set forth herein, is effective as of February 1, 2003.

                                    ARTICLE I
                              TITLE AND DEFINITIONS
                              ---------------------

         1.1      Definitions.
                  -----------

                  Capitalized terms used in this Plan, shall have the meanings
specified below.

                  a) "Account" or "Accounts" shall mean a Participant's account
under this Plan, including all of such subaccounts as are specifically
authorized for inclusion in this Plan.

                  b) "Base Salary" shall mean an Eligible Employee's annual base
salary, including any salary continuation, excluding bonus, commissions,
incentive and all other remuneration for services rendered to the Company, but
prior to reduction for any salary contributions to a plan established pursuant
to Sections 125 or 132(f) of the Code or qualified pursuant to Section 401(k) of
the Code.

                  c) "Beneficiary" or "Beneficiaries" shall mean the person or
persons, including a trustee, personal representative or other fiduciary, last
designated in writing by a Participant in accordance with procedures established
by the Committee to receive the benefits specified hereunder in the event of the
Participant's death. No beneficiary designation shall become effective until it
is filed with the Committee. Any designation shall be revocable at any time
through a written instrument filed by the Participant with the Committee with or
without the consent of the previous Beneficiary. No designation of a Beneficiary
other than the Participant's spouse shall be valid unless consented to in
writing by such spouse. If there is no such designation or if there is no
surviving designated Beneficiary, then the Participant's surviving spouse shall
be the Beneficiary. If there is no surviving spouse to receive any benefits
payable in accordance with the preceding sentence, the duly appointed and
currently acting personal representative of the Participant's estate shall be
the Beneficiary. In any case where there is no such personal representative of
the Participant's estate duly appointed and acting in that capacity within 90
days after the Participant's death (or such extended period as the Committee
determines is reasonably necessary to allow such personal representative to be
appointed, but not to exceed 180 days after the Participant's death), then
Beneficiary shall mean the person or persons who can verify by affidavit or
court order to the satisfaction of the Committee that they are legally entitled
to receive the benefits specified hereunder. In the event any amount is payable
under the Plan to a minor, payment shall not be made to the minor, but instead
be paid to such minor's legal guardian duly appointed and currently acting to
hold the funds for such minor. If no guardian of the estate for the minor is
duly appointed and currently acting within 60 days after the date the amount
becomes payable, payment shall be deposited with the court having jurisdiction
over the estate of the minor. Payment by Company pursuant to any unrevoked
Beneficiary designation, or to the Participant's estate if no such designation
exists, of all benefits owed hereunder shall terminate any and all liability of
Company.

                                       1
<PAGE>

                  d) "Business Unit" means The United  Illuminating Company
("UI"), American Payment Systems, Inc. ("APS"), Xcelecom, Inc., United
Resources, Inc. ("URI"), and each other subsidiary of the Company which, with
the consent of the Board, has adopted the Plan.  Business Units shall be listed
on Exhibit A to the Plan.

                  e) "Board of Directors" or "Board" shall mean the Board of
Directors of UIL Holdings Corporation.

                  f) "Bonuses" shall mean the bonuses earned pursuant to any
bonus plan or program approved by the Company (or its affiliates).

                  g) "Change in Control" of the Company shall mean any of the
following events, with the term "Company" being used in this definition to refer
also to a Change in Control of any Business Unit with respect to each
Participant employed by such Business Unit:

                           (i)  any merger or consolidation of the Company with
any corporate shareowner or group of corporate shareowners holding twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation (or a successor
to UIL Holdings Corporation, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise - a "Successor"), or with any other corporation or
group of corporations that is, or after such merger or consolidation would be,
or be affiliated with, a shareowner or group of shareowners owning at least
twenty-five percent (25%) of the Stock of UIL Holdings Corporation or a
Successor, or

                          (ii)  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
transfer or other disposition of any assets of the Company having an aggregate
fair market value of $50 million or more to or with any shareowner or group of
shareowners holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Stock of UIL
Holdings Corporation or a Successor, or to or with any affiliate of any such
shareowner or group of shareowners; or

                         (iii)  the issuance or sale by the Company, or the
sale by UIL Holdings Corporation or a Successor, in exchange for cash,
securities or other consideration having an aggregate fair market value of $50
million or more, of any securities of such Company to any shareowner or group of
shareowners holding twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Stock of UIL
Holdings Corporation or a Successor, or to any affiliate of any such shareowner
or group of shareowners; or

                          (iv)  the implementation of any plan or proposal for
the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or of UIL Holdings Corporation or
a Successor, proposed by or on behalf of any shareowner or group of shareowners
owning at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Stock of UIL Holdings
Corporation or a Successor, or by or on behalf of any affiliate of any such
shareowner or group of shareowners; or

                           (v)  any reclassification of securities (including a
reverse stock split), or recapitalization, of UIL Holdings Corporation or a
Successor, or any other transaction, which has the effect, directly or
indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of outstanding shares of any
class of equity securities, or securities convertible into any equity
securities, of UIL Holdings Corporation or a Successor, which class of
securities is directly or indirectly owned by a shareowner or group of
shareowners owning at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Stock of UIL
Holdings Corporation or a Successor, or by any affiliate of any such shareowner
or group of shareowners.

         The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, by the
affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of said
Board of Directors, at a meeting of said Board of Directors called and held for
the purpose, modify the phrase "twenty-five percent (25%)" in one or more of the
foregoing subparagraphs to a lesser percentage, but not less than twenty percent
(20%).

                  h) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

                  i) "Committee" shall mean the Administrative Committee
appointed by the Chief Executive Officer to administer the Plan in accordance
with Article VII.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                  j) "Company" shall mean UIL Holdings Corporation, a
Connecticut corporation.

                  k) "Company Discretionary Contribution" shall mean such
discretionary contributions, if any, credited by the Company to the Company
Discretionary Contribution Subaccount of a Participant for a Plan Year. Such
contribution may differ from Participant to Participant both in amount,
including no contribution, and as a percentage of Compensation.

                  l) "Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount" shall mean
the bookkeeping account maintained by the Company for each Participant that is
credited with an amount equal to (i) the Company Discretionary Contribution
Amount, if any, paid by the Company and (ii) net earnings and losses
attributable thereto.

                  m) "Company Matching Contribution" shall mean such matching
contributions, if any, made by the Company with respect to a Participant, in
order to make up for the loss of a matching contribution under the UI KSOP
resulting from the Participant's Compensation Deferrals under this Plan.

                  n) "Company Matching Contribution Subaccount" shall mean the
bookkeeping account maintained by the Company for each Participant that is
credited with an amount equal to (i) the number of Stock units equal in value to
the Company Matching Contributions, if any, and the Dividend Equivalents, if
any, paid by the Company, plus (ii) net earnings and losses attributable
thereto.

                  o) "Compensation" shall mean, in the case of Eligible
Employees, Base Salary, increases in Base Salary received during the Plan Year;
Bonuses and other incentive awards; any lump sum payments made from the
Company's SERP; compensation in excess of the amount deductible under
Section 162(m) of the Code, and any other compensation permitted to be deferred
by the Chief Executive Officer or Committee.

                  p) "Compensation Committee" shall mean the Compensation and
Executive Development Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or any
subcommittee thereof.

                  q) "Compensation Deferrals" shall mean the compensation
deferred by a Participant pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Plan.

                  r) "Compensation Deferral Subaccount" shall mean the
bookkeeping account maintained by the Plan Administrator for each Participant
that is credited with amounts equal to (i) the portion of the Participant's
Compensation that he or she elects to defer, and (ii) net earnings and losses
attributable thereto.

                  s) "Designated Individuals" shall mean those Eligible
Employees and Directors designated as eligible to defer Restricted Stock Awards.

                  t) "Disability" shall mean that the Participant meets the
definition of "disabled" under the terms of The United Illuminating Company
Long-Term Disability Plan in effect on the date in question, whether or not such
Participant actually is covered by such plan.

                  u) "Distributable Amount" shall mean the vested balance in the
Participant's Accounts subject to distribution in a given Plan Year.

                  v) "Dividend Equivalents" shall mean the amount of cash
dividends or other cash distributions paid by the Company on that number of
shares equal to the number of Stock Units credited to a Participant's Stock Unit
Subaccount as of the applicable record date for the dividend or other
distribution, which amount shall be credited in the form of additional Stock
Units to the Participant's Stock Unit Subaccount.

                  w) "Early Distribution" shall mean an election by a
Participant in accordance with Section 6.3 to receive a withdrawal of amounts
from his or her Compensation Deferral Subaccount, and any vested Company
Discretionary and/or Matching Contribution Subaccounts, prior to the time at
which such Participant would otherwise be entitled to such amounts.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  x) "Effective Date" shall be February 1, 2003.

                  y) "Eligible Employee" shall mean each Employee of the Company
or a Participating Subsidiary eligible to participate in the Plan, as determined
in Section 2.1.

                  z) "Eligible Person" shall mean each Eligible Employee or
Director of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary, to the extent that such
individual is eligible to participate in the Plan, as determined in Section 2.1.

                  aa) "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.

                  bb) "Election Period" shall mean the time period associated
with enrollment in the Plan. The first Election Period with respect to Eligible
Employees becoming Participants on the Effective Date (February 1, 2003) shall
end on January 24, 2003. Thereafter, subsequent elections with respect to a
subsequent calendar year must be filed by October 30th of the preceding year to
be effective with respect to such subsequent calendar year. Each newly Eligible
Person shall have thirty days after becoming eligible in which to file an
election with respect to Compensation deferrals for the initial Plan Year in
which he or she is eligible to participate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Election Period with respect to the deferral by a Designated Individual of some
portion or all of a Restricted Stock Award shall be any period designated by the
Committee, which ends prior to receipt of the Award, and which shall be deemed
effective contemporaneously with the Award with respect to any Restricted Stock
vesting at least one year after such election is processed.

                  cc) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

                  dd) "Fund" or "Funds" shall mean one or more of the investment
funds selected by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.2.

                  ee) "Hardship Distribution" shall mean a distribution made on
account of a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from a
sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of his or her
dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code), loss of a Participant's
property due to casualty, or other similar or extraordinary and unforeseeable
circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the
Participant.

                  ff) "Investment Rate" shall mean, for each Fund, an amount
equal to the closing price of such Fund during each business day, recorded for
internal reporting to the Company on a monthly basis and reported to
Participants on a calendar quarterly basis.

                  gg) "Participant" shall mean any Eligible Person who becomes a
Participant in this Plan in accordance with Article II.

                  hh) "Payment Date" shall mean the date for payment of
Distributable Amounts, as provided in Article VI.

                  ii) "Plan" shall mean the UIL Holdings Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan.

                  jj) "Plan Administrator" shall mean the administrator
appointed by the Committee with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. As of February 1, 2003, TBG Financial was appointed the Plan
Administrator.

                  kk) "Plan Year" shall mean January 1 to December 31 of each
year; except that the initial plan year shall extend from February 1, 2003
through December 31, 2003.

                  ll) "Related Company" shall mean any entity in which the
Company owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding voting
stock or capital at the relevant time.

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  mm) "Restricted Stock" shall mean shares of Stock issued under
the Restricted Stock feature of the UIL Holdings Corporation 1999 Amended and
Restated Stock Plan, which shares are subject to forfeiture based on
non-compliance with certain enumerated criteria.

                  nn) "Restricted Stock Award" shall mean any award of
Restricted Stock under UIL Holdings Corporation 1999 Amended and Restated Stock
Plan.

                  oo) "Retirement" shall mean termination of service after the
Participant has satisfied the requirements for early retirement under the terms
of The United Illuminating Company Pension Plan.

                  pp) "Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date" shall mean February
of the year elected by the Participant to withdraw, or begin to withdraw,
balances attributable to amounts deferred in a given Plan Year, and earnings and
losses attributable thereto. A Participant's Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal
Date in a given Plan Year may be no earlier than three years from the last day
of the Plan Year for which Compensation Deferrals, deferrals of Restricted
Stock, and contributions of Company Discretionary and Matching Contribution
Amounts, are made.

                  qq) "SERP" shall mean The United Illuminating Company
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as that plan may be amended from time to
time, including, without limitation, by substituting the Company as plan
sponsor.

                  rr) "Stock" shall mean common stock of UIL Holdings
Corporation, or any successor to UIL Holdings Corporation.

                  ss) "Stock Fund" or "Company Stock Fund" shall mean the
deemed, unitized, investment Fund established to record (i) Participants' deemed
investments in Stock Units, (ii) Designated Individuals' deferrals of Restricted
Stock in Stock Units, (iii) Company Matching Contributions invested in Stock
Units, and (iv) Dividend Equivalents deemed reinvested in Stock Units. The
Company has reserved 50,000 shares of Company Stock for deemed investment in
this Plan.

                  tt) "Stock Unit" shall mean a unit of value, equivalent to the
value of a share of Stock or Restricted Stock, established by the Committee as a
means of measuring value of the Stock-related portion of an Account under the
Plan.

                  uu) Stock Unit Subaccount" shall mean the bookkeeping account
maintained by the Committee on behalf of each Participant who is credited with
Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents resulting from Compensation Deferrals and
Company Matching Contributions, that are deemed invested in Stock Units, and
deferrals of Restricted Stock.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                  PARTICIPATION
                                  -------------

         2.1      Determination of Eligible Persons.
                  ---------------------------------

         All (i) officers of the Company and its Business Units, and (ii) those
Employees of the Company and Business Units whose Base Salary is fixed at more
than $100,000 per year (determined during the Election Period) and who, in the
case of Company, and UI, Employees, are classified in Grade 10 or above
(collectively, "Eligible Employees"), shall be eligible to participate in this
Plan. Any other key management or highly compensated Employee from time to time
designated by the Committee or Chief Executive Officer of the Company to be
eligible to participate shall also be considered an Eligible Employee under the
Plan.

         With respect to the initial Plan Year of the Plan, Directors of the
Company and its Participating Business Units shall be eligible to participate
only in that portion of the Plan permitting deferral of Restricted Stock.
Thereafter, with respect to subsequent Plan Years, such Directors shall be
eligible to participate in that portion of the Plan permitting elective
deferrals of Compensation and other features of the Plan, to the extent that
they are made applicable to Directors through subsequent Plan amendment. A
Director shall be deemed an Eligible Person with

                                       5
<PAGE>

respect to elective deferrals of Compensation (including fees and retainers) and
other features of the Plan at such time as such provisions are made applicable
to the Directors.

         2.2      Enrollment; Duration of Participation.
                  -------------------------------------

         An Eligible Person shall become a Participant in the Plan by electing
to make deferrals in accordance with Section 3.1 during an Election Period, in
accordance with such procedures as may be established from time to time by the
Committee. An individual who, at any time, ceases to be an Eligible Person as
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall cease making deferrals
in the Plan, and no future deferrals will be allowed until such time as the
individual again becomes an Eligible Person. In such case, the individual may
remain a Participant in the Plan with respect to amounts already deferred.

         2.3      Transfers to Non-Participating Related Companies.
                  ------------------------------------------------

         An Eligible Employee who becomes employed by a Related Company, which
is not a participating Business Unit, shall no longer be eligible to make any
further deferrals under the Plan. However, such individual shall remain a
participant in the Plan with respect to amounts already deferred. Any deferrals
for the current Plan Year shall terminate as of the date of transfer.

         2.4      Amendment of Eligibility Criteria.
                  ----------------------------------

         The Committee may, with the approval of the Compensation Committee,
change the criteria for eligibility on a prospective basis.

                                   ARTICLE III
                               DEFERRAL ELECTIONS
                               ------------------

         3.1      Elections to Defer Compensation.
                  -------------------------------

                  (a) Election to Defer. Subject to the provisions of Article
                      -----------------
II, each Eligible Employee may elect to defer Compensation earned after the
Election Period, by filing an election with the Plan Administrator (a "Deferral
Election") that conforms to the requirements of this Section 3.1 either via the
internet or mail, on a form provided by the Plan Administrator, by no later than
the last day of the Election Period. Deferral Elections are irrevocable for the
Plan Year, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan. Deferral
Elections will continue in effect from Plan Year to Plan Year, unless decreased,
increased, or terminated during an Election Period with respect to a subsequent
Plan Year.

                  (b) Deferrals of Base Salary, Bonus and certain SERP Amounts.
                      --------------------------------------------------------
With respect to each Plan Year, an Eligible Employee may defer, in either whole
percentages or a flat dollar amount, up to 85% of Annual Base Salary and up to
100% of increases in Base Salary that become effective during the Year; up to
100% of Bonuses or other incentive awards; and up to 100% of any lump sum SERP
payments that would be payable in a calendar year subsequent to the filing of
the Deferral Election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total amount deferred
shall be limited, as necessary, to satisfy income tax and Social Security Tax
(including Medicare) withholding obligations, and employee benefit plan
withholding requirements as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of
the Committee. The minimum contribution that must be made in any Plan Year by an
Eligible Employee shall not be less than $5,000, which may be satisfied from any
deferral source (e.g., Base Salary, Bonus, etc.). For the first Plan Year of the
Plan, this required minimum contribution amount shall be pro-rated.

                  (c) Deferral of Restricted Stock. A Designated Individual may
                      ----------------------------
elect to defer all or any portion of a Restricted Stock Award as of the date
such Award is made provided that such deferral is permitted by the terms of the
Award. Any such deferral election must be made in a time period designated by
the Committee in accordance with the applicable Election Period as defined with
respect to deferrals of Restricted Stock. Such Election shall be irrevocable.
All such deferrals shall be deemed invested only in Stock Units.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                  (d) Mandatory Deferral of Excess 162(m) Compensation.
                      ------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, to the extent that
any Compensation to be paid to an Eligible Employee with respect to a taxable
year would exceed the amount deductible by the Company or a Business Unit under
Section 162(m) of the Code (the "Excess"), such Excess automatically shall be
deferred under the terms of this Plan without the necessity of an election to
defer. Such deferred Excess shall be held and administered subject to the terms
of the Plan, provided that, irrespective of the Employee's election as to timing
and form of payment under Section 3.3, no deferred Excess shall be distributed
to the affected Employee prior to the first taxable year in which such amounts,
if paid, would be deductible under Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor
provision).

         3.2      Deemed Investment Elections.
                  ---------------------------

                  (a) With respect to Base Salary, Bonus and SERP Amounts. At
                      ---------------------------------------------------
the time of making the deferral elections described in Section 3.1(b), the
Participant shall designate, on a form provided by the Plan Administrator, or,
if allowed by the Committee, via voice response, internet or other technology,
the types of investment Funds (selected and made available by the Committee),in
which the Participant's Compensation Deferral Subaccount will be deemed to be
invested for purposes of determining the amount of net earnings or losses to be
credited to that Subaccount. In making the designation pursuant to this Section
3.2, the Participant may specify that all, or any portion, of his or her
Compensation Deferral Subaccount be deemed to be invested, in whole percentage
increments, in one or more of the types of investment Funds provided under the
Plan, as communicated from time to time by the Committee.

                  A Participant may change the designation made under this
Section 3.2 by filing an election, on a form provided by the Plan Administrator,
or, if allowed by the Committee, via voice response, Internet or other
technology on any business day; provided, however, that a Participant who has
elected to have some portion of his Compensation Deferrals deemed invested in
the Company Stock Fund may not transfer out of such investment with respect to
such Compensation Deferral amount. A Participant may elect to have each Plan
Year of Compensation Deferrals hypothetically invested in investment allocations
different or distinct from his or her prior elections.

                  A Participant's Compensation Deferral will be deemed invested
in the Money Market investment Fund (i) if a Participant fails to make a deemed
investment election under this Section 3.2, or (ii) pending the establishment of
a full array of deemed investment options by the Committee, or (iii) pending the
effective date of the deemed investment in the Company Stock Fund as provided in
Section 3.2(c).

                  (b) With Respect to Deferrals of Restricted Stock Awards. As
                      ----------------------------------------------------
of the date that Restricted Stock vests, a Participant's Stock Unit Subaccount
shall be credited with the number of Stock Units equivalent in value to the
amount of shares of Restricted Stock vested.

                  (c) Deemed investments will be valued daily. Except as
                      ---------------------------------------
otherwise provided in this Subsection 3.2(c) with respect to deemed investments
in the Company Stock Fund, a deemed investment direction, or change in deemed
investment direction, shall be processed based on the closing values for the
date received, if such direction is received by the Plan Administrator by 4 p.m.
Eastern Time. Otherwise, such direction shall be processed based on the closing
values of the particular investment Funds on the next business day on which the
markets are open. The net gain or loss of each deemed investment Fund (the
"Investment Rate") shall be recorded monthly, and reported quarterly as provided
in (e) below.

                  Except as provided in Subsection 3.2(b) above, a deemed
investment in the Company Stock Fund shall be deemed to be a direction to invest
in the UIL Stock Money Market Fund pending the end of the quarter, and shall be
credited with the rate of return of such deemed investment in the UIL Stock
Money Market Fund, with the direction to invest in the Company Stock Fund to be
effective as of the third business day following the end of the quarter in which
such direction is received, based on the closing price of the Company Stock Fund
as of the end of the business day on which such investment is deemed acquired.
Except as provided in Subsection 3.2(b) above, deemed purchases in the Company
Stock Fund shall be made on a non-calendar quarter basis, beginning with the
third business day following the non-calendar quarter ending with the month of
February, 2003, and continuing quarterly thereafter.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                  Once the investment in the Company Stock Fund is effective
with respect to Compensation Deferrals and with respect to deferrals of
Restricted Stock, a Participant may not re-direct such investment back into
other deemed investment Funds available under the Plan.

                  (d) Although the Participant may designate deemed investments
for his Compensation Deferrals, the Committee shall not be bound by such
designation. The Committee shall have no obligation to actually make any
hypothetical investment, but may do so if it chooses. If a hypothetical
investment is actually made by the Committee, then for the period the investment
is held, the timing of actual investment changes and the actual value of
investments, less actual costs, fees and expenses incurred, shall be used to
measure investment return of the deemed investment under this Plan. The
Committee shall select from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion,
investment funds, may rebalance funds, and shall communicate the same to the
Plan Administrator.

                  (e) The Investment Rate of each such deemed investment fund
shall be used to determine the amount of earnings or losses to be credited to
all of Participants' Subaccounts under Article IV, and shall be reported on a
calendar quarterly basis to Participants. Rebalancing of deemed investments on
Compensation Deferral Accounts, based on aggregate Participant hypothetical
investment directions shall occur as soon as administratively feasible following
the close of each month; provided, however, that rebalancing of the Company
Stock Account shall occur as soon as administratively feasible following the
close of each quarter.

                  (f) The Committee in its discretion shall establish reasonable
and uniform rules applicable to all Participants for hypothetical investments
under the Plan, which rules shall include, but not be limited to, rules
governing the frequency of permitted changes in hypothetical investments and the
effective date of such changes. All direct costs, management fees and other
expenses that would have been incurred if a hypothetical investment or change in
investment had actually been made shall be charged against a Participant's
Account, unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

         3.3      Elections as to Form and Timing of Payment.
                  ------------------------------------------

                  (a) At the time of making the deferral elections described in
Section 3.1, the Participant shall elect, on a form provided by the Plan
Administrator, (i) to receive his Compensation Deferral Account, his deferred
Restricted Stock Account, and any Company Contributions made with respect to
such Plan Year either (A) commencing upon his or her termination of service (due
to Retirement, death, disability, or voluntary or involuntary termination) or
(B) at a specified future date while the Participant remains employed (a
"Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date"), and shall elect (ii) the payment method
in which such amounts (and hypothetical net earnings thereon) shall be
distributed from among the forms of benefit payment available under Section 6.2.

                  (b) The Participant may, but is not required to, elect to
subject each Plan Year's Compensation Deferrals and earnings thereon to a
separate distribution schedule.

                  (c) Each election as to the timing and form of payment shall
apply only for one Plan Year, and only to the Compensation Deferrals, deferrals
of Restricted Stock, and any Company Contributions made with respect to such
year, and shall not carry forward. To the extent that a Participant does not
file an election as to form and timing of payment with respect to Compensation
Deferrals, Deferrals of Restricted Stock, and Company Contributions for a Plan
Year, the deemed distribution election automatically shall be a lump sum
following termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.

                  (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a
Participant terminates service for any reason other than Retirement or
termination due to long-term disability, including on account of a Change in
Control of the Company or a Business Unit for whom the Participant was employed
as of the Change in Control, then the Participant's entire account balance will
be distributed in a single lump sum as soon as administratively feasible
following the end of the calendar quarter in which such termination occurs, but
in no event more than sixty (60) days following the end of such quarter. In the
event that a Participant is receiving Scheduled In-Service Withdrawals and then
terminates service, any unpaid balance of Subaccounts will be paid in a lump
sum.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV
             COMPENSATION DEFERRAL AND COMPANY CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS
             -------------------------------------------------------

         4.1      Compensation Deferral Subaccount.
                  --------------------------------

         The Plan Administrator shall establish and maintain a Compensation
Deferral Subaccount for each Participant under the Plan. Each Participant's
Compensation Deferral Subaccount shall be further divided into separate
Subaccounts ("Investment Fund Subaccounts"), each of which corresponds to an
investment Fund elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 3.2. A
Participant's Compensation Deferral Subaccount shall be credited as follows:

                  (a) As soon as administratively feasible, and in no event
later than ten (10) days, after amounts are withheld and/or deferred from a
Participant's Compensation, the Committee shall credit the Investment Fund
Subaccounts of the Participant's Compensation Deferral Subaccount with an amount
equal to Compensation deferred by the Participant in accordance with the
Participant's election under Section 3.1.

                  (b) Each business day, each Investment Fund Subaccount of a
Participant's Compensation Deferral Subaccount shall be credited with earnings
or losses in an amount equal to that determined by multiplying the balance
credited to such investment Fund Subaccount as of the prior day plus
contributions credited that day to the Investment Fund Subaccount by the
Investment Rate for the corresponding deemed Fund selected by the Participant.

         4.2      Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount.
                  ---------------------------------------------

         With approval of the Board, the Company or any Business Unit may from
time to time make Discretionary Contributions to the Accounts of Participants or
selected Participants, and, if it so decides, may impose a vesting schedule on
such Contributions. In the event that the Company or any Business Unit
determines to make such a contribution, the Plan Administrator shall establish
and maintain a Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount for each
Participant under the Plan. Each Participant's Company Discretionary
Contribution Subaccount shall be further divided into separate Subaccounts, each
of which corresponds to a Fund elected by the Participant pursuant to Section
3.2(a). A Participant's Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount shall be
credited as follows:

                  (a) The Plan Administrator shall credit the Investment Fund
Subaccounts of the Participant's Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount
with an amount equal to the Company Discretionary Contribution Amount, if any,
applicable to that Participant, within ten (10) business days after such amount
is contributed; and

                  (b) Such Subaccount shall be deemed invested, and valued, in
the same manner and proportion as the Participant's other Account balances under
the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Company.

         4.3      Company Matching Contribution Subaccount.
                  ----------------------------------------

                  (a) In the event that the Committee determines that a
Participant is unable with respect to a calendar year to receive the maximum
matching allocation in the UI KSOP due to the Compensation Deferrals made by the
Participant to this Plan, the Company shall make a supplemental Company Matching
Contribution in the amount of such shortfall to this Plan as soon as
administratively feasible following the end of such calendar year.

                  (b) In such case, the Plan Administrator shall establish and
maintain a Company Matching Contribution Subaccount for such Participant. Each
such Participant's Company Matching Contribution Subaccount shall be deemed
invested in the Company Stock Fund, at the end of the quarter in which such
contribution is allocated to the Participant's Company Matching Contribution
Subaccount, with such contribution deemed invested in the Money Market Fund
pending the end of such quarter.

                  (c) A Participant's Company Matching Contribution Subaccount
shall be valued in the same manner, and at the same time, as the Company Stock
Fund.

                                       9
<PAGE>

         4.4      Deferred Restricted Stock Account.
                  ---------------------------------

                  (a) The Plan Administrator shall maintain a Stock Unit
Subaccount for each Designated Individual to record the number of Stock Units to
be credited to such Designated Individual as of the date that Restricted Stock
vests.

                  (b) The number of Stock Units to be credited shall be
equivalent in value to the number of shares of Restricted Stock when vesting
restrictions (and any other applicable conditions) have been satisfied.

                  (c) The Designated Individual's Restricted Stock sub-account
shall be credited with Dividend Equivalents.

                  (d) Until such time as such sub-accounts are actually paid in
Stock to the Designated Individual, the Designated Individual shall have no
voting rights associated with such sub-accounts.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                     VESTING
                                     -------

         5.1      Vesting.
                  -------

         A Participant shall be 100% vested in his or her Compensation Deferral
Account and Company Matching Contribution Subaccount, and any Stock Unit
Subaccount. A Participant shall be vested in accordance with any schedule that
the Committee may establish with respect to his or her Company Discretionary
Contribution Account, if any.

         5.2      Vesting Upon Death/Change in Control.
                  ------------------------------------

         Upon death of a Participant, or in the event of a Change in Control,
the Participant shall be 100% vested in his or her Compensation Deferral
Account, any Stock Unit Subaccount, Company Matching Contribution Subaccount,
and in any Company Discretionary Contribution Subaccount.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  DISTRIBUTIONS
                                  -------------

         6.1      Manner of Payment--Cash vs. Stock.
                  ---------------------------------

         Distributions of Compensation Deferral Subaccounts, Company
Discretionary Contribution Subaccounts, Company Matching Contribution
Subaccounts, and deemed earnings thereon, shall be made in cash, except to the
extent that such Subaccounts are deemed invested in the Company Stock Fund.
Distributions of Company Stock Fund Subaccounts (including Subaccounts
attributable to deferred Restricted Stock, Compensation Deferrals and Company
Matching Contributions), shall be paid in shares of Company Stock. All
fractional shares of Stock shall be paid in cash.

         6.2      Distribution of Accounts.
                  ------------------------

         (a)  Distribution Due to Retirement, Disability or Termination of
              ------------------------------------------------------------
Service.
-------
                  (1) Termination of Service with $50,000 Account Balance or
                      ------------------------------------------------------
Less. In the case of a Participant terminates service with the Company and all
----
affiliates, and who has a total Account balance of $50,000 or less, the
Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum distribution
after the end of the calendar quarter in which the Participant terminates
service.

                                       10
<PAGE>

                  (2) Termination of Service with More than $50,000 Account
                      -----------------------------------------------------
Balance.
-------

                  (i) For Reasons other than Retirement or Disability. In the
                      -----------------------------------------------
case of a Participant who terminates service with the Company and all affiliates
for reasons other than Retirement or Disability with an Account balance of more
than $50,000, the Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant in a
lump sum after the end of the quarter in which the Participant terminates
service.

                 (ii) Due to Retirement or Disability. In the case of a
                      -------------------------------
Participant who terminates service with the Company and all affiliates due to
Retirement or Disability and has a total Account balance more than $50,000, the
Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum unless the
Participant has made a timely election to have the Distributable Amount paid in
one of the following optional installment forms set forth in Section 6.2(a)(3).

                  (3) Election of Installment Form. An installment form of
                      ----------------------------
benefit may be elected by the Participant (to be implemented upon the
Participant's Retirement or Disability), with respect to each Plan Year's
Compensation Deferrals, deferred Restricted Stock, and Company Contributions, on
a form provided by the Plan Administrator, or, if permitted by the Committee,
via voice response, Internet or other approved technology, during an Election
Period, from among the following:

                  (i)  annual installments over five (5) years beginning on the
Participant's Payment Date;

                 (ii)  annual installments over ten (10) years beginning on the
Participant's Payment Date;

                (iii)  annual installments over fifteen (15) years beginning on
the Participant's Payment Date.

                  (4) Modification of Election of Form of Payment. A Participant
                      -------------------------------------------
may modify the form of benefit that he or she has previously elected, provided
such modification occurs at least one (1) year before the Participant terminates
employment with the Company.

                  (5) Delay of Payment Date with respect to Retiring
                      ----------------------------------------------
Participants. Prior to Retirement a Participant may delay the Payment Date for
------------
any Plan Year's Compensation Deferrals to a date later than the otherwise
applicable Payment Date, provided such extension occurs at least one year before
the Participant's Retirement Date. The Participant may delay his or her Payment
Date no more than twice.

                  (6) Timing of Installment Payments. Upon a Participant's
                      ------------------------------
termination of service due to Retirement or Disability, the first annual
installment distribution will be made as soon as administratively practicable
following the end of the calendar quarter in which the Participant terminates
service, but not later than sixty (60) days following the end of the calendar
quarter containing the Participant's termination. Subsequent annual installments
will be distributed in February of each year.

                  (7) Deferral of Installment Commencement Date to February
                      -----------------------------------------------------
following Retirement or Disability. A Participant who terminates service with
----------------------------------
the Company and all affiliates due to Retirement or Disability may elect to
defer commencement of his or her annual installment payments until February of
the year following his termination of service due to Retirement or Disability,
but any such election must be made at least twelve (12) months prior to such
termination of service.

                  (8) Timing of Lump Sum Distributions. Lump sum distributions
                      --------------------------------
will be paid as soon as administratively feasible following the end of the
calendar quarter in which the Participant terminates service (due to retirement,
disability, death or otherwise), but not later than sixty (60) days following
the calendar quarter containing his or her termination of service.

                  (9) Termination Not on Account of Retirement or Disability.
                      ------------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.2(a), in the event
that a Participant terminates service with the Company and all affiliates for
any reason other than Retirement or Disability, including on account of a Change
in Control of UIL Holdings or a Business Unit (for whom the Participant was
employed as of the Change in Control), then the Participant's entire

                                       11
<PAGE>

Account balance will be distributed in a single lump sum. In the event that a
Participant is receiving Scheduled In-Service Withdrawals and then terminates
service, any unpaid balance of Subaccounts will be paid in a lump sum.

                  (10) Delay of Distribution Due to Disability Offset. If any
                       ----------------------------------------------
distribution from the Plan shall have the effect of reducing disability benefits
receivable by the Participant under any other policy, plan, program or
arrangement, such distribution may be postponed, in the sole discretion of the
Committee, upon application by the Participant.

                  (11) Continued Crediting of Investment Rate. The Participant's
                       --------------------------------------
Account shall continue to be credited with earnings pursuant to Article IV of
the Plan until all amounts credited to his or her Account under the Plan have
been distributed.

         (b) Distribution With a Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date.
             --------------------------------------------------------

                  (1) In the case of a Participant who has elected a Scheduled
In-Service Withdrawal, such Participant shall receive his or her Distributable
Amount as scheduled, but only with respect to those deferrals of Compensation,
deferrals of Restricted Stock, any vested Company Discretionary Contribution
Amounts, Company Matching Contribution Amounts and earnings or losses
attributable thereto, as shall have been elected by the Participant to be
subject to the Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date in accordance with Section
1.1(pp) of the Plan.

                  (2) A Participant's Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date in a
given Plan Year may be no earlier than three (3) years from the last day of the
Plan Year for which the deferrals of Compensation, Restricted Stock,
contributions of Company Discretionary and Matching Contribution Amounts are
made. A Participant may elect either a lump sum, or annual installments over a
period ranging from two (2) years, up to and including five (5) years from the
Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date.

                  (3) A Participant may extend the Scheduled In-Service
Withdrawal Date for any Plan Year, provided such extension occurs at least one
(1) year before the Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date and is for a period of
not less than two years from the Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date. The
Participant may modify any Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date in the manner
set forth above, no more than two (2) times.

                  (4) The first annual installment subject to a Scheduled
In-Service Withdrawal Date shall commence to be paid in February of the Plan
Year in which the Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date falls. Subsequent annual
installments will be distributed in February of each year.

                  (5) Lump sum distributions will be paid in February of the
year specified on the Participant's election of a Scheduled In-Service
Withdrawal Date.

                  (6) If a Participant terminates service with the Company and
all affiliates for reasons other than Retirement or Disability prior to his or
her Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date, the Compensation Deferral, deferred
Restricted Stock, and any amounts attributable to Company Contributions, subject
to such Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date will instead be distributed in the
form of a lump sum. Such lump sum distribution will be paid as soon as
administratively feasible following the end of the calendar quarter in which the
Participant terminates service, but not later than sixty (60) days following the
calendar quarter containing his or her termination of service.

         (c) Distribution for Termination Due to Death. In the case of the death
             -----------------------------------------
of a Participant while in the service of the Company or an affiliate, the
Participant's entire undistributed Account balance shall be distributed to the
Participant's Beneficiary, in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the
end of the calendar quarter in which death occurs. In the event a Participant
dies while receiving installment payments, the remaining installments shall be
paid to the Participant's Beneficiary in a lump sum as soon as practicable
following the end of the calendar quarter in which death occurs.

         (d) Distribution Date with respect to Deferred Restricted Stock.
             -----------------------------------------------------------
Deferrals of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same rules regarding
timing and forms of payment as are applicable to other Subaccounts under this

                                       12
<PAGE>

Plan, provided, however, that in no event shall the any amounts be payable with
respect to such subaccounts prior to the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

         6.3      Early Non-Scheduled Distributions.
                  ---------------------------------

         A Participant shall be permitted to elect an unplanned Early
Distribution from his or her Account prior to the Payment Date, subject to the
following restrictions and penalties:

                  (a) The election to take an Early Distribution shall be made
by filing a form provided by and filed with the Committee or, if permitted by
the Committee, via voice response, Internet or other approved technology prior
to the end of any calendar month. No more than two Early Distributions may be
taken by any Participant.

                  (b) The total amount of the Early Distribution shall be no
more than 90% of the Participant's vested Account balance.

                  (c) The amount described in subsection (b) above shall be paid
in a cash lump sum as soon as practicable after the end of the calendar month in
which the Early Distribution election is made.

                  (d) If a Participant requests an Early Distribution of his or
her entire vested Account, the remaining balance of his or her Account (10% of
the Account) shall be permanently forfeited and the Company shall have no
obligation to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary with respect to such
forfeited amount. If a Participant receives an Early Distribution of less than
his or her entire vested Account, such Participant shall forfeit 10% of the
gross amount to be distributed from the Participant's Account and the Company
shall have no obligation to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary with
respect to such forfeited amount.

                  (e) If a Participant receives an Early Distribution of either
all or a part of his or her Account, the Participant will be ineligible to
participate in the Plan for the balance of the Plan Year and for the following
Plan Year; provided, however, that such individual shall remain a Participant in
the Plan with respect to amounts already deferred.

         6.4      Hardship Distribution.
                  ---------------------

                  (a) A Participant shall be permitted to elect a Hardship
Distribution from his or her Compensation Deferral Subaccount, Matching
Contribution Subaccount, and any vested Company Discretionary Contribution
Subaccounts prior to the Payment Date, subject to the following restrictions:

                  (b) The election to take a Hardship Distribution shall be made
by filing a form provided by and filed with Committee prior to the end of any
calendar month.

                  (c) The Committee shall have made a determination, in its sole
discretion, that the requested distribution constitutes a Hardship Distribution
in accordance with Section 1.1(ee) of the Plan.

                  (d) The amount determined by the Committee as a Hardship
Distribution shall be paid in a cash lump sum as soon as practicable after the
Hardship Distribution election is made and approved by the Committee.

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Hardship
Distribution may be made to the extent that such hardship is or may be relieved
(i) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (ii) by
liquidation of the Participant's assets, to the extent the liquidation of assets
would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or (iii) by cessation of
deferrals under this Plan.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         6.5      Inability to Locate Participant.
                  -------------------------------

         In the event that the Committee is unable to locate a Participant or
Beneficiary within two years following the required Payment Date, the amount
allocated to the Participant's Account shall be forfeited. If, after such
forfeiture, the Participant or Beneficiary later claims such benefit, such
benefit shall be reinstated without additional interest or earnings.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                 ADMINISTRATION
                                 --------------

         7.1      Committee.
                  ---------

         A Committee shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company. The number of members comprising
the Committee shall be determined by the CEO, who may from time to time vary the
number of members. A member of the Committee may resign by delivering a written
notice of resignation to the CEO. The CEO may remove any member by delivering a
certified copy of its resolution of removal to such member. Vacancies in the
membership of the Committee shall be filled promptly by the CEO.

         7.2      Committee Action.
                  ----------------

         The Committee shall act at meetings by affirmative vote of a majority
of the members of the Committee. Any action permitted to be taken at a meeting
may be taken without a meeting if, prior to such action, a written consent to
the action is signed by all members of the Committee and such written consent is
filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee. A member of the
Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter which relates solely to himself
or herself as a Participant. The Chairman or any other member or members of the
Committee designated by the Chairman may execute any certificate or other
written direction on behalf of the Committee.

         7.3      Powers and Duties of the Committee.
                  ----------------------------------

         The Committee, on behalf of the Participants and their Beneficiaries,
shall enforce the Plan in accordance with its terms, shall be charged with the
general administration of the Plan, and shall have all powers necessary to
accomplish its purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:

                (i)    To select the funds in accordance with Section 3.2(a)
hereof;

               (ii)    To construe and interpret the terms and provisions of
this Plan;

              (iii)    To compute and certify to the amount and kind of benefits
payable to Participants and their Beneficiaries;

               (iv)    To maintain all records that may be necessary for the
administration of the Plan, and to approve all administrative forms and
procedures to be used in the establishment and maintenance of Accounts and
Subaccounts;

                (v)    To provide for the disclosure of all information and the
filing or provision of all reports and statements to Participants, Beneficiaries
or governmental agencies as shall be required by law;

               (vi)    To make and publish such rules for the regulation of the
Plan and procedures for the administration of the Plan as are not inconsistent
with the terms hereof;

              (vii)    To appoint a Plan administrator or any other agent, and
to delegate to them such powers and duties in connection with the administration
of the Plan as the Committee may from time to time prescribe; and

             (viii)    To take all actions necessary for the administration of
the Plan.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         7.4      Construction and Interpretation.
                  -------------------------------

         The Committee shall have full discretion to construe and interpret the
terms and provisions of this Plan, which interpretations or construction shall
be final and binding on all parties, including but not limited to the Company
and any Participant or Beneficiary. The Committee shall administer such terms
and provisions in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner and in full accordance
with any and all laws applicable to the Plan.

         7.5      Information.
                  -----------

         To enable the Committee to perform its functions, the Company shall
supply full and timely information to the Committee on all matters relating to
the Compensation of all Participants, their death or other events which cause
termination of their participation in this Plan, and such other pertinent facts
as the Committee may require.

         7.6      Compensation, Expenses and Indemnity.
                  ------------------------------------

                  (a) The members of the Committee shall serve without
compensation for their services thereunder.

                  (b) The Committee is authorized at the expense of the Company
to employ such legal counsel as it may deem advisable to assist in the
performance of its duties hereunder. Expenses and fees in connection with the
administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

                  (c) To the extent permitted by applicable state law, the
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Committee and each member thereof,
the Board of Directors and any delegate of the Committee who is an employee of
the Company against any and all expenses, liabilities and claims, including
legal fees to defend against such liabilities and claims arising out of their
discharge in good faith of responsibilities under or incident of the Plan, other
than expenses and liabilities arising out of willful misconduct. This indemnity
shall not preclude such further indemnities as may be available under insurance
purchased by the Company or provided by the Company under any bylaw, agreement
or otherwise, as such indemnities are permitted under state law.

         7.7      Quarterly Statements.
                  --------------------

         Under procedures established by the Committee, a Participant shall
receive a statement with respect to such Participant's Accounts on a quarterly
basis.

         7.8      Disputes.
                  --------

                  (a)  Claim.
                       -----

                  A person who believes that he or she is being denied a benefit
to which he or she is entitled under this Plan (hereinafter referred to as
"Claimant") must file a written request for such benefit with the Company,
setting forth his or her claim within ninety (90) days of the date such Claimant
believes he or she was entitled to benefits under the Plan. The request shall be
addressed to the Committee, at its then principal place of business.

                  (b)  Claim Decision.
                       --------------

                  Upon receipt of a claim, the Company shall advise the Claimant
that a reply will be forthcoming within ninety (90) days and shall, in fact,
deliver such reply within such period. The Company may, however, extend the
reply period for an additional ninety (90) days for special circumstances.

                  If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall
inform the Claimant in writing, setting forth: (i) the specified reason or
reasons for such denial; (ii) the specific reference to pertinent provisions of
this Plan on which such denial is based; (iii) a description of any additional
material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim
and an explanation of why such material or such information is necessary; (iv)
appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to
submit the claim for review; and (v) the time limits for requesting a review
under subsection (c).

                                       15
<PAGE>

                  (c)  Request for Review.
                       ------------------

                  Within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Claimant of
the written opinion described above, the Claimant may request in writing that
the Committee review the determination of the Company. Such request shall be
addressed to the Compensation Committee of the Company, at its then principal
place of business. The Claimant or his or her duly authorized representative
may, but need not, review the pertinent documents and submit issues and comments
in writing for consideration by the Committee. If the Claimant does not request
a review within such sixty (60) day period, he or she shall be barred and
estopped from challenging the Company's determination.

                  (d)  Review of Decision.
                       ------------------

                  Within sixty (60) days after the Committee's receipt of a
request for review, after considering all materials presented by the Claimant,
the Committee will inform the Claimant in writing, the decision setting forth
the specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the Claimant, containing specific references to the pertinent
provisions of this Plan on which the decision is based. If special circumstances
require that the sixty (60) day time period be extended, the Committee will so
notify the Claimant and will render the decision as soon as possible, but no
later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request for
review.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

         8.1      Unsecured General Creditor.
                  --------------------------

         Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assign
shall have no legal or equitable rights, claims, or interest in any specific
property or assets of the Company, including in any Compensation Deferrals made
under this Plan. No assets of the Company shall be held in any way as collateral
security for the fulfilling of the obligations of the Company under this Plan.
Any and all of the Company's assets shall be, and remain, the general unpledged,
unrestricted assets of the Company. The Company's obligation under the Plan
shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company to pay
money in the future, and the rights of the Participants and Beneficiaries shall
be no greater than those of unsecured general creditors. It is the intention of
the Company that this Plan be unfunded for purposes of the Code and for purposes
of Title 1 of ERISA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may enter into
one or more rabbi trusts, in accordance with the provisions of Revenue Procedure
92-64, to assist it and its Business Units in providing benefits under this
Plan.

         8.2      Restriction Against Assignment.
                  ------------------------------

         The Company shall pay all amounts payable hereunder only to the person
or persons designated by the Plan and not to any other person or corporation. No
part of a Participant's Accounts shall be liable for the debts, contracts, or
engagements of any Participant, his or her Beneficiary, or successors in
interest, nor shall a Participant's Accounts be subject to execution by levy,
attachment, or garnishment or by any other legal or equitable proceeding, nor
shall any such person have any right to alienate, anticipate, sell, transfer,
commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any benefits or payments hereunder in any
manner whatsoever. If any Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest is
adjudicated bankrupt or purports to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer,
commute, assign, pledge, encumber or charge any distribution or payment from the
Plan, voluntarily or involuntarily, the Committee, in its discretion, may cancel
such distribution or payment (or any part thereof) to or for the benefit of such
Participant, Beneficiary or successor in interest in such manner as the
Committee shall direct.

         8.3      Withholding.
                  -----------

         There shall be deducted from each payment made under the Plan or any
other Compensation payable to the Participant (or Beneficiary) all taxes that
are required to be withheld by the Company under applicable federal, state and
local laws. The Company shall have the right to reduce any payment (or
compensation) by the amount of cash sufficient to provide the amount of said
taxes.

                                       16
<PAGE>

         8.4      Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination.
                  --------------------------------------------------

         The Compensation Committee, with approval of the Board, may amend,
modify, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, except to the extent
that such power has been expressly reserved otherwise under the terms of this
Plan. No amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall have any
retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant's Accounts.
In the event that this Plan is terminated, the amounts allocated to a
Participant's Accounts shall be distributed to the Participant or, in the event
of his or her death, his or her Beneficiary in a lump sum within thirty (30)
days following the date of termination.

         8.5      Governing Law.
                  -------------

         This Plan shall be construed, governed and administered in accordance
with the laws of the State of Connecticut without regard to the conflicts of law
principles thereof.

         8.6      Receipt or Release.
                  ------------------

         Any payment to a Participant or the Participant's Beneficiary in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in
full satisfaction of all claims against the Committee and the Company. The
Committee may require such Participant or Beneficiary as a condition precedent
to such payment, to execute a receipt and release to such effect.

         8.7      Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity.
                  ----------------------------------------------

         In the event that any amount becomes payable under the Plan to a person
who, in the sole judgment of the Committee, is considered by reason of physical
or mental condition to be unable to give a valid receipt therefore, the
Committee may direct that such payment be made to any person found by the
Committee, in its sole judgment, to have assumed the care of such person. Any
payment made pursuant to such determination shall constitute a full release and
discharge of the Committee and the Company.

         8.8      Limitation of Rights and Employment Relationship.
                  ------------------------------------------------

         Neither the establishment of the Plan nor any modification thereof, nor
the creating of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be
construed as giving any Participant, or Beneficiary or other person any legal or
equitable right against the Company except as provided in the Plan; and in no
event shall the terms of employment of any Employee or Participant be modified
or in any way be affected by the provisions of the Plan.

         8.9      Adjustments; Assumption of Obligations.
                  --------------------------------------

         In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
or extraordinary cash dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation,
distribution of assets, or any other change in the corporate structure or shares
of the Company, such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or any Stock
Units credited hereunder, the Committee shall make such adjustments as it deems
appropriate in (i) the number of Stock Unit credited to Participants' Accounts,
(ii) the number (or type) of shares of Stock reserved for issuance hereunder,
and (iii) the number (or type) of shares subject to any deferred Restricted
Stock award. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization
in which the Company is not the surviving or continuing entity, all Stock Units,
and deferred Restricted Stock hereunder shall be assumed by the surviving or
continuing entity. In the event of any reorganization in which all of the shares
of the Company's Stock are exchanged for shares of the common stock of another
corporation, all Stock Units credited hereunder, and all deferred restricted
Stock outstanding on the effective date of the share exchange shall be
automatically converted into obligations of the other corporation on identical
terms, and the other corporation shall assume this Plan, or if the Committee
deems such action appropriate, it may provide for a cash payment to the
Participant. The Committee may also make adjustments to Stock Units, and
deferred restricted Stock under this Plan on account of those events set forth
in Section 8 of the UIL Holdings Corporation 1999 Amended and Restated Stock
Plan.

                                       17
<PAGE>

8.10     Headings.
         --------

         Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of
reference only and are not to be considered in the construction of the
provisions hereof.

Executed as of the 27th day of January, 2003.

                            UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                            By   /s/ Susan E. Mullen
                              ------------------------------
                                     Its Senior Human Resources Executive

                                       18
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                          PARTICIPATING BUSINESS UNITS

COMPANY NAME                                      DATE OF PARTICIPATION
------------                                      ---------------------

The United Illuminating Company ("UI")                     2/1/03

American Payment Systems, Inc. ("APS")                     2/1/03

Xcelecom, Inc.                                             2/1/03

United Resources, Inc., ("URI")                            2/1/03

                                       19

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