Directorate Change

National Grid PLC
30 January 2006


30 January 2006

                       Planned Chief Executive Succession

National Grid plc ('National Grid') today announces the intention of Roger
Urwin, Group Chief Executive, to retire from National Grid at the end of this
calendar year and the appointment of Steve Holliday as Group Chief Executive
designate. Steve will be appointed Group Deputy Chief Executive from the
beginning of National Grid's next financial year.

Sir John Parker, Chairman of National Grid, said:

'Roger has led National Grid through transformational change and delivered an
outstanding track record of success and value creation. At the Board's request
Roger agreed to defer his retirement to enable a smooth transition, ensuring
that operating performance momentum is maintained together with management
continuity through this year's Transmission Price Review.

'The Board undertook a thorough process of evaluating both internal and external
candidates, and we are delighted to announce Steve as the Chief Executive
designate and the Board congratulates him on this appointment. Since joining
National Grid in 2001, Steve has led the UK Transmission and the UK Gas
Distribution businesses to world-leading performance. All the directors and
myself are confident in the future of the Group under Steve's leadership.'


CONTACT DETAILS

National Grid:

Investors
David Campbell          [phone]         [phone](m)
Richard Smith           [phone]         [phone](m)

Media
Clive Hawkins           [phone]         [phone](m)

Citigate Dewe Rogerson  [phone]
Anthony Carlisle        [phone](m)

Photographs are available on www.newscast.co.uk


Notes to Editors:

Roger Urwin

Roger Urwin (59) became Group Chief Executive of National Grid Transco plc in
October 2002 following the merger between National Grid Group and Lattice Group.
The company changed its name to National Grid plc in July 2005.

Prior to the merger he was appointed Group Chief Executive of National Grid
Group in April 2001, where he played a key role in establishing the company's
international strategy and its successful expansion into the US.  He joined the
Group in 1995, initially as CEO of the company's UK transmission business.

Previously Roger Urwin was Managing Director and Chief Executive of London
Electricity from 1990 to 1995. He is also a Non-executive Director of Utilico
Investment Trust plc and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.


Steve Holliday

Steve Holliday (49) joined National Grid Group as Group Director, UK and Europe
in March 2001. Immediately following the merger between National Grid and
Lattice Group in October 2002, he was responsible for the Group's electricity
and gas transmission businesses. He was then appointed as Group Director
responsible for UK Gas Distribution and Business Services.
He was formerly an Executive Director of British Borneo Oil and Gas. Previously,
he spent 19 years with the Exxon Group, where he held senior positions in the
international gas business and operational areas such as refining and shipping.
Steve Holliday's international experience includes a four-year spell in the US.
He also developed business opportunities in countries as diverse as China,
Australia, Japan, Brazil and the former Soviet Union. He is a Non-executive
Director of Marks and Spencer Group plc.


National Grid

National Grid is an international energy delivery business, whose principal
activities are in the regulated electricity and gas industries. It owns the
high-voltage electricity transmission system in England and Wales and operates
the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas
transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11
million homes and businesses in Britain.

The Group has electricity transmission systems in northeastern US, and
distributes electricity in the northeastern US to approximately 3.3 million
customers, and gas in upstate New York to around 560,000 customers.

National Grid also has a number of businesses operating in related areas such as
wireless infrastructure for broadcast and telecommunications, metering and
interconnectors.




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