Appointment

National Grid Group PLC
26 April 2001


National Grid appoints Non-Executive Director

National Grid Group (National Grid) today announced that Dr Bonnie G. Hill
will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the company on completion of
the acquisition of Niagara Mohawk targeted for late 2001. She is currently a
Non-Executive Director of Niagara Mohawk.

Bonnie Hill is president and chief executive officer of The Times Mirror
Foundation and Senior Vice President of the Los Angeles Times newspaper. Prior
to joining Times Mirror in 1997 she was Dean of the McIntire School of
Commerce at the University of Virginia.

She has also served as secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency for
the State of California and held a variety of presidential appointments,
serving as vice-chair of the Postal Rate Commission, assistant secretary in
the Department of Education and special adviser to the former President Bush
for Consumer Affairs. In addition to serving on the board of Niagara Mohawk,
she is on the boards of AK Steel, Hershey Foods and The Home Depot. She also
has extensive involvement in a variety of civic, educational and community
affairs bodies.

Commenting on her appointment, James Ross, Chairman, said: 'Bonnie will be a
great asset to the National Grid Board, bringing specific understanding of
Niagara Mohawk and broad experience of US business and consumer issues.'

National Grid and Niagara Mohawk announced on 5 September 2000 that, subject
to the required approvals, National Grid would acquire all the outstanding
shares of Niagara Mohawk valued at approximately $3.0 billion.



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