Notes to the consolidated financial statements - analysis of items in the primary statements

1. Segmental analysis

The Board of Directors is National Grid’s chief operating decision making body (as defined by IFRS 8). The segmental analysis is based on the information the Board of Directors uses internally for the purposes of evaluating the performance of operating segments and determining resource allocation between segments. The performance of operating segments is assessed principally on the basis of operating profit before exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries. The following table describes the main activities for each operating segment:

Transmission UK High voltage electricity transmission networks, the gas transmission network in Great Britain, 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 and electricity metering activities; UK property management; a UK LNG import terminal; other LNG operations; US unregulated transmission pipelines; US gas fields; together with corporate activities.

For the year ended 31 March 2009, 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. These businesses were sold during the year ended 31 March 2009 except for two engineering companies which were sold subsequent to the year end. 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, all of which were disposed of during 2007. For additional disclosures relating to discontinued operations, refer to note 7.

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

(a) Revenue

  Total
sales
2010
£m
Sales
between
segments
2010
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2010
£m
Total
sales
2009
£m
Sales
between
segments
2009
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2009
£m
Total
sales
2008
£m
Sales
between
segments
2008
£m
Sales
to third
parties
2008
£m
Operating segments – continuing operations                  
Transmission UK 3,460 6 3,454 3,487 2 3,485 2,956 16 2,940
Transmission US 405 74 331 420 83 337 299 61 238
Gas Distribution UK 1,517 70 1,447 1,466 79 1,387 1,383 70 1,313
Gas Distribution US 3,708 5 3,703 4,786 3 4,783 2,845 2 2,843
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 4,339 1 4,338 4,972 1 4,971 3,508 2 3,506
Other activities 738 23 715 719 58 661 642 59 583
  14,167 179 13,988 15,850 226 15,624 11,633 210 11,423
Total excluding stranded cost recoveries     13,612     15,189     11,041
Stranded cost recoveries     376     435     382
      13,988     15,624     11,423
Geographical areas                  
UK     5,524     5,334     4,787
US     8,464     10,290     6,636
      13,988     15,624     11,423

The table above represents revenue from continuing operations only.

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.

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 future prices 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 £100m at 31 March 2010 (2009: £52m; 2008: £23m). In the US, under-recoveries and other regulatory entitlements to future revenue (including stranded cost recoveries) amounted to £2,333m at 31 March 2010 (2009: £2,289m; 2008: £1,652m).

A reconciliation of the operating segments’ measure of profit to total profit before taxation is provided below. Further details of the exceptional items, remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries are provided in note 3.

(b) Operating profit

  Before exceptional items,
remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
  After exceptional items,
remeasurements and stranded cost recoveries
  2010
£m
2009
£m
2008
£m
  2010
£m
2009
£m
2008
£m
Operating segments – continuing operations              
Transmission UK 1,311 1,126 1,021   1,252 1,063 1,013
Transmission US 153 175 128   151 173 122
Gas Distribution UK 723 672 595   682 629 574
Gas Distribution US 414 612 392   448 226 487
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 374 265 330   701 531 696
Other activities 146 65 129   59 1 72
  3,121 2,915 2,595   3,293 2,623 2,964
Geographical areas              
UK 2,180 1,875 1,752   2,007 1,729 1,667
US 941 1,040 843   1,286 894 1,297
  3,121 2,915 2,595   3,293 2,623 2,964
Reconciliation to profit before tax:              
Operating profit 3,121 2,915 2,595   3,293 2,623 2,964
Interest income and similar income 1,005 1,315 1,275   1,005 1,315 1,275
Interest expense and other finance costs (2,160) (2,465) (2,045)   (2,113) (2,549) (2,061)
Share of post-tax results of joint ventures and associates 8 5 4   8 5 4
Profit before tax – continuing operations 1,974 1,770 1,829   2,193 1,394 2,182

The table above represents operating profit from continuing operations only, as disclosed in the consolidated income statement, and excludes the results of discontinued operations.

(c) Capital expenditure and depreciation

  Capital expenditure   Depreciation and amortisation
  2010
£m
2009
£m
2008
£m
  2010
£m
2009
£m
2008
£m
Operating segments – continuing operations              
Transmission UK 1,254 1,259 1,600   373 353 372
Transmission US 240 182 111   59 56 40
Gas Distribution UK 670 598 514   201 177 181
Gas Distribution US 409 421 188   173 172 91
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 372 355 257   215 223 146
Other activities 307 427 383   173 146 164
  3,252 3,242 3,053   1,194 1,127 994
Discontinued operations 1  
  3,252 3,242 3,054   1,194 1,127 994
Geographical areas              
UK 2,187 2,270 2,493   733 679 709
US 1,065 972 560   461 448 285
Rest of the world 1  
  3,252 3,242 3,054   1,194 1,127 994

Capital expenditure comprises additions to property, plant and equipment and other non-current intangible assets amounting to £3,148m (2009: £3,164m; 2008: £3,009m) and £104m (2009: £78m; 2008: £45m) respectively.

Depreciation and amortisation includes expensed depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortisation of other intangible assets amounting to £1,131m (2009: £1,058m; 2008: £940m) and £63m (2009: £69m; 2008: £54m) respectively.

(d) Total assets

  Total assets
  2010
£m
2009
£m
Operating segments    
Transmission UK 11,085 10,451
Transmission US 2,467 2,238
Gas Distribution UK 6,592 6,158
Gas Distribution US 9,454 10,112
Electricity Distribution & Generation US 7,289 7,854
Other activities 2,557 2,289
  39,444 39,102
Joint ventures 250 168
Unallocated 3,859 5,197
  43,553 44,467
Geographical areas    
UK 19,720 18,527
US 19,974 20,743
Unallocated 3,859 5,197
  43,553 44,467

The analysis of total assets includes all attributable goodwill and excludes inter segment balances. Unallocated total assets comprise cash and cash equivalents, taxation, current financial investments and total derivative financial assets.

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