Trading Statement

United Utilities Group PLC

20 September 2012

                        UNITED UTILITIES TRADING UPDATE                        

United Utilities today issues an update for the six months ending 30 September
2012. Current trading is in line with the group's expectations of delivering a
good underlying financial performance for 2012/13. The company continues to
make further progress improving operational performance and customer service
and remains confident of delivering its 2010-15 regulatory outperformance
targets.

Revenue is expected to be higher than last year, reflecting the regulated price
increase for 2012/13. However, as expected, this increase is slightly below the
allowed regulated price rise, principally reflecting the ongoing impact of
customers switching to meters and continued lower commercial volumes. As
outlined previously, the increase in revenue for the full year is anticipated
to be largely balanced by higher depreciation, alongside higher infrastructure
renewals expenditure (IRE) and other operating costs both of which are impacted
by the transfer of private sewers.

Regulatory capital investment and depreciation are expected to be slightly
higher in the second half of 2012/13, compared with the first half of the year.
However, the profile of IRE is anticipated to be smoother across 2012/13 than
in 2011/12, when it was skewed much more towards the second half of the year.
Furthermore, IRE and other operating costs in the first half of 2011/12 were
not impacted by the transfer of private sewers. As a result, the profile of
underlying operating profit is expected to be more evenly distributed between
the first half and second half of 2012/13, compared with 2011/12 when
underlying operating profit was much higher in the first half.

The underlying net finance expense for the first half of 2012/13 is expected to
be moderately lower than the first half of last year. This principally reflects
lower RPI inflation in respect of the group's index-linked debt.

A deferred taxation credit of approximately £50 million will be recognised in
the financial statements for the first half of 2012/13. This follows the UK
government substantively enacting the change to reduce the mainstream rate of
corporation taxation from 24% to 23% from 1 April 2013. A similar credit was
also recognised in the first half of last year.

Group borrowings, net of cash and short term deposits and derivatives, at the
half year are expected to be moderately higher than the position at 31 March
2012. This principally reflects expenditure on the regulatory capital
investment programme, payment of the 2011/12 final dividend and payments in
relation to pensions, interest and tax, partly offset by operational cash
flows. Gearing remains in the middle of Ofwat's assumed range (55% to 65% net
debt to regulatory capital value), reflecting growth in the regulatory capital
value through continued high levels of capital investment coupled with RPI
inflation.

United Utilities will announce its half year results on 28 November 2012.

United Utilities contacts:

Gaynor Kenyon, Corporate Affairs Director              [phone]  
                                                                            
Darren Jameson, Head of Investor Relations             [phone]  
                                                                            
Ed Orlebar / Michelle Clarke, Tulchan Communications   [phone]