Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1. Segmental analysis

The following segmental analysis is presented in accordance with management responsibilities and economic characteristics, including consideration of the risks and returns, of our business activities. The Company assesses the performance of its businesses principally on the basis of operating profit before exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries. The primary reporting format is by business and the secondary reporting format is by geographical area. The following table describes the main activities for each business segment:

Transmission UK High voltage electricity transmission networks, the gas transmission network in the UK, the UK liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage activities and the French electricity interconnector.
Transmission US High voltage electricity transmission networks in New York and New England.
Gas Distribution UK Four of the eight regional networks of Great Britain’s gas distribution system.
Gas Distribution US Gas distribution in New York and New England.
Electricity Distribution & Generation US Electricity distribution in New York and New England, and electricity generation in New York.

Other activities primarily relate to non-regulated businesses and other commercial operations not included within the above segments, including UK-based gas metering activities; UK property management; a UK LNG import terminal; other LNG operations; US unregulated transmission pipelines; US home energy services; US gas fields; together with corporate activities, including business development.

Discontinued operations comprise the Ravenswood generation station in New York City and the engineering and communications operations in the US acquired as part of the KeySpan acquisition. The Ravenswood generation station was sold on 26 August 2008, KeySpan Communications was sold on 25 July 2008 and one of our KeySpan engineering companies was sold on 11 July 2008. Subsequent to the year end, two further engineering companies were sold. For the year ended 31 March 2008, discontinued operations also include the wireless infrastructure and communications operations in the UK and the US and an electricity interconnector in Australia. The wireless infrastructure operations in the UK were sold on 3 April 2007; the US wireless operations were sold on 15 August 2007; and the Basslink electricity interconnector in Australia was sold on 31 August 2007. The results for discontinued operations are disclosed in note 8.

Sales between businesses are priced having regard to the regulatory and legal requirements to which the businesses are subject.

(a) Revenue

 
 
 
 

Total
sales
2009
£m
Sales
between
businesses
2009
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2009
£m

Total
sales
2008
£m
Sales
between
businesses
2008
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2008
£m

Total
sales
2007
£m
Sales
between
businesses
2007
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2007
£m
Business segments – continuing operations                  
Transmission UK 3,487 2 3,485 2,956 16 2,940 2,816 18 2,798
Transmission US 420 83 337 299 61 238 270 47 223
Gas Distribution UK 1,466 79 1,387 1,383 70 1,313 1,193 92 1,101
Gas Distribution US 4,786 3 4,783 2,845 2 2,843 638 638
Electricity Distribution &                  
Generation US 4,972 1 4,971 3,508 2 3,506 3,430 2 3,428
Other activities 719 58 661 642 59 583 567 60 507
  15,850 226 15,624 11,633 210 11,423 8,914 219 8,695
Total excluding stranded cost                  
recoveries     15,189     11,041     8,269
Stranded cost recoveries     435     382     426
      15,624     11,423     8,695
Geographical segments                  
UK     5,334     4,787     4,397
US     10,290     6,636     4,298
      15,624     11,423     8,695

The table above represents revenue from continuing operations only, as disclosed in the consolidated income statement. For additional disclosures relating to discontinued operations, refer to note 8.

The analysis of revenue by geographical area is on the basis of destination. There are no material sales between the UK and US geographical areas.

Approximately 6% (2008: 9%; 2007: 9%) of revenue for the year ended 31 March 2009 amounting to approximately £1.0bn (2008: £1.0bn; 2007: £0.8bn) derives from a single customer, the Centrica group. The majority of this revenue is in the Gas Distribution UK segment with lesser amounts in the Transmission UK segment and in other activities.

In accordance with the Company’s accounting policy on revenue recognition, where revenue received or receivable exceeds the maximum amount permitted by regulatory agreement and adjustments will be made to reflect the over-recovery, no liability is recognised. Similarly, no asset is recognised where a regulatory agreement permits adjustments to be made to future prices in respect of an under-recovery. In the UK, there was an under-recovery of £52m at 31 March 2009 (2008: £23m; 2007: £33m). In the US, under-recoveries and other regulatory entitlements to future revenue (including stranded cost recoveries) amounted to £2,289m at 31 March 2009 (2008: £1,652m 2007: £1,930m).

(b) Operating profit

 
Before exceptional items,
remeasurements and stranded
  After exceptional items,
remeasurements and stranded

 
2009
£m
2008
£m
2007
£m
  2009
£m
2008
£m
2007
£m
Business segments – continuing operations              
Transmission UK 1,126 1,021 946   1,063 1,013 936
Transmission US 175 128 108   173 122 107
Gas Distribution UK 672 595 409   629 574 412
Gas Distribution US 612 392 71   226 487 67
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 265 330 364   531 696 859
Other activities 65 129 133   1 72 132
  2,915 2,595 2,031   2,623 2,964 2,513
Geographical segments              
UK 1,875 1,752 1,491   1,729 1,667 1,482
US 1,040 843 540   894 1,297 1,031
  2,915 2,595 2,031   2,623 2,964 2,513

The table above represents operating profit from continuing operations only, as disclosed in the consolidated income statement, and excludes the results of discontinued operations. For additional disclosures relating to discontinued operations, refer to note 8.

(c) Capital expenditure and depreciation
  Capital expenditure   Depreciation and amortisation

 
2009
£m
2008
£m
2007
£m
  2009
£m
2008
£m
2007
£m
Business segments – continuing operations              
Transmission UK 1,259 1,600 1,235   353 372 352
Transmission US 182 111 108   56 40 41
Gas Distribution UK 598 514 490   177 181 170
Gas Distribution US 421 188 36   172 91 24
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 355 257 218   223 146 127
Other activities 427 383 258   146 164 157
  3,242 3,053 2,345   1,127 994 871
Discontinued operations 1 30   72
  3,242 3,054 2,375   1,127 994 943
Geographical segments              
UK 2,270 2,493 2,007   679 709 739
US 972 560 365   448 285 196
Rest of the world 1 3   8
  3,242 3,054 2,375   1,127 994 943

Capital expenditure comprises additions to property, plant and equipment and other non-current intangible assets amounting to £3,164m (2008: £3,009m; 2007: £2,343m) and £78m (2008: £45m; 2007: £32m) respectively.

Depreciation and amortisation includes expensed depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortisation of other intangible assets amounting to £1,058m (2008: £940m; 2007: £889m) and £69m (2008: £54m; 2007: £54m) respectively.

(d) Total assets and total liabilities
  Total assets   Total liabilities

 
2009
£m
2008*
£m
  2009
£m
2008*
£m
Business segments – continuing operations          
Transmission UK 10,451 10,076   (1,501) (1,455)
Transmission US* 2,238 1,565   (190) (83)
Gas Distribution UK 6,158 5,765   (1,279) (1,222)
Gas Distribution US* 10,112 7,251   (2,024) (1,612)
Electricity Distribution & Generation US* 7,854 5,674   (3,523) (2,429)
Other activities* 2,289 2,068   (1,189) (523)
  39,102 32,399   (9,706) (7,324)
Discontinued operations* 1,506   (83)
  39,102 33,905   (9,706) (7,407)
Joint ventures – continuing operations 168 71  
Unallocated* 5,197 3,795   (30,777) (24,990)
  44,467 37,771   (40,483) (32,397)
Geographical segments          
UK 18,527 17,533   (3,602) (3,365)
US* 20,743 16,443   (6,104) (4,042)
Unallocated* 5,197 3,795   (30,777) (24,990)
  44,467 37,771   (40,483) (32,397)
*
Comparatives have been restated for the finalisation of the fair value exercise on the acquisition of KeySpan Corporation (see note 28) and adjusted to present comparatives on a basis consistent with current year classification

The analysis of total assets and total liabilities includes all attributable goodwill and excludes inter-business balances. Unallocated total assets comprise cash and cash equivalents, taxation, current financial investments and total derivative financial assets. Unallocated total liabilities comprise bank overdrafts, borrowings, derivative financial liabilities and taxation.

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