Western Power Distribution
{{Short description|Brand used by British electricity distribution companies}}
{{about|the former electricity distributor in Britain|the former electricity distributor in Australia|Western Power Corporation}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Western Power Distribution
| logo = Western Power Distribution logo.svg
| logo_size =
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = 1999
| defunct = 2022
| founder =
| location = Bristol, England, United Kingdom
| key_people =
| area_served = Wales & South West, East Midlands & West Midlands
| industry = Electricity
| products = Electric power distribution
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = PPL Corporation
| fate = absorbed into National Grid
| divisions =
| subsid =
| owner =
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}
Western Power Distribution is a trade name formerly used by four electricity distribution companies in the United Kingdom: WPD South West (operating in South West England), WPD South Wales (in South Wales) and WPD Midlands (two companies, in the East Midlands and West Midlands). Each company was the distribution network operator for its respective region. Western Power Distribution, which had headquarters in Bristol, served approximately 7.7 million customers in its combined distribution areas. In 2022 the company was absorbed into its new parent company, National Grid.
File: Eurocopter EC135P1 of Western Power Distribution (G-WPDD) leaves Bristol Airport, England 15Aug2016 arp.jpgP1 of Western Power Distribution, used for line inspections (2016)]]
History
=Formation=
In 1998, WPD South West was formed from the demerger of the electricity distribution arm of SWEB.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=30 June 2003 |title=Who owns whom in the UK electricity industry |url=http://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/who_owns_whom.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050508132703/http://www.catalyst-commercial.co.uk/who_owns_whom.pdf |archive-date=8 May 2005 |website=Catalyst Commercial |publisher=Electricity Association |via=Internet Archive}} In September 2000, the American energy company PPL Corporation purchased Hyder for £565m and sold Welsh Water and other interests, leaving the electricity distribution arm Infralec which was renamed WPD South Wales.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/885873.stm|website=BBC News|title=Hyder faces fresh battle|date=18 August 2000}} In April 2011, PPL purchased Central Networks (the distribution network operator for the East and West Midlands){{Cite web |date=20 February 2004 |title=City briefs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2877512/City-briefs.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=The Telegraph}} from E.ON for £3.5 billion and rebranded it as WPD Midlands.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}
= 2022 redress payment =
In May 2022, WPD made a £14.9{{Nbsp}}million voluntary redress payment after an investigation by industry regulator Ofgem found shortfalls in the company's implementation of its obligations to vulnerable customers.{{Cite web |last=Grundy |first=Alice |date=2022-05-04 |title=WPD pays £14.9m for failing vulnerable customers |url=https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/wpd-pays-14-9m-for-failing-vulnerable-customers |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Current |language=en-gb}}
= Acquisition by National Grid =
Western Power Distribution was a subsidiary of PPL for many years.[http://www.pplweb.com/ppl+global/international+operations/Western+Power+Distribution.htm Western Power Distribution], PPLWeb.com In August 2020, PPL announced an intention to sell WPD.{{Cite web |date=11 August 2020 |title=WPD put up for sale by US owner PPL as it looks to reposition its portfolio |url=https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/wpd-put-up-for-sale-by-us-owner-ppl-as-it-looks-to-reposition-its-portfolio |access-date=2020-08-13 |website=Current News |language=en-gb}} In March 2021, PPL announced a swap with National Grid in which it divested WPD and acquired Narragansett Electric of Rhode Island.{{Cite web |last=Armitage |first=Jim |date=2021-03-18 |title=National Grid to quit gas in major shift to green electricity |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/national-grid-to-quit-gas-in-major-shift-to-green-electricity-with-ps18-billion-deal-flurry-b924846.html |access-date=2021-03-18 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} The acquisition was completed in June 2021,{{Cite web |title=Acquisition completion: Western Power Distribution - 11:06:23 14 Jun 2021 - NG |url=https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/NG./acquisition-completion-western-power-distribution/15016423 |access-date=2021-06-16 |website=London Stock Exchange}} and approved by the Competition and Markets Authority in September of that year.{{Cite web |last=John |first=Adam |date=2021-09-02 |title=CMA clears National Grid's acquisition of WPD |url=https://utilityweek.co.uk/cma-clears-national-grids-acquisition-of-wpd/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Utility Week |language=en-US}} In September 2022, the company was renamed to National Grid Electricity Distribution.{{Cite web |title=National Grid Electricity Distribution plc |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09223384 |access-date=26 September 2022 |website=Companies House}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://westernpower.co.uk}}
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{{Electricity generation in South West England}}
{{Energy in Wales}}
{{Energy in the United Kingdom|companies}}
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{{Authority control}}
Category:Electric power companies of England
Category:Electric power in Wales
Category:Electric power distribution network operators in the United Kingdom
Category:Companies based in Cardiff