COMPETITION COMMISSION INVITES EVIDENCE ON THE COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY CENTRICA PLC OF DYNEGY STORAGE LTD AND DYNEGY ONSHORE PROCESSING UK LTD

Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt has asked the Competition Commission to look in to the completed acquisition by Centrica Plc of Dynegy Storage Ltd and Dynegy Onshore Processing UK Ltd, which owned and operated the Rough gas storage facility.

The Commission will consider whether the acquisition may be expected to operate against the public interest, and, if so, what steps might be taken to remedy the expected adverse effects. The Commission has been asked to report to the Secretary of State on the acquisition by 9 June 2003. The report will be published at a later date.

The Commission would like to hear from all interested parties, in writing, by 21 March 2003.

To submit evidence, please write to:

The Inquiry Secretary (Centrica/Dynegy)
Competition Commission
New Court
48 Carey Street
London WC2A 2JT

Or email: anne.jolly@competition-commission.gsi.gov.uk

The Group conducting the inquiry will be chaired by Denise Kingsmill, a Deputy Chairman of the Commission. The other members will be appointed soon. Their details will be announced on the Commission's inquiry website (http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/cent.htm) shortly.

Notes to Editors:

The reference concerning the completed acquisition by Centrica Plc of Dynegy Storage Ltd and Dynegy Onshore Processing UK Ltd was made under the Fair Trading Act 1973 on 25 February 2003 (see DTI press notice P/2003/115).

Further information will be provided on the Commission's website http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/cent.htm