Eastern Utilities Associates Acquisition Complete

National Grid Group PLC
20 April 2000


National Grid completes EUA acquisition
                            
The National Grid  Group  plc  (National  Grid) yesterday
announced that National Grid USA (formerly  New England
Electric System) has completed the acquisition of Eastern
Utilities Associates (EUA), valuing  each  EUA  share at
$31.459 and the equity of EUA at $ 642.9 million.

EUA  will be fully integrated into National Grid USA with
immediate  effect. The transaction was originally
announced on 1 February 1999 and received its final
regulatory approval on 17 April 2000.



Contacts

National Grid             [phone]
Jill Sherratt             mobile: [phone]
Diane Boddy
Susan Stevens

Citigate Dewe Rogerson    [phone]
Anthony Carlisle          mobile: [phone]
Sue Pemberton
Duncan Murray