Massachusetts Electric, Niagara Mohawk, Narragansett Electric, Granite State Electric and Nantucket Electric to Change Name to National Grid.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. -- Advisory to Editors: National Grid will conduct a media conference call today at 1 p.m. to discuss this announcement. Media representatives can participate in the call by dialing 1-800-683-1565 and requesting connection to the National Grid conference call 6201308. A replay of the call will be available until 5 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2005, by dialing 1-877-519-4471 and entering code 6201308#.

To reflect their combined strength in the United States and join in their parent company's plan to unify under a single worldwide brand, Massachusetts Electric, Niagara Mohawk, Narragansett Electric, Granite State Electric and Nantucket Electric today announced plans to change their name to National Grid.

"Being part of National Grid has brought benefits to the customers of our regional operating companies, including lower delivery rates and greater access to new technology and resources," said Michael Jesanis, president and chief executive officer of National Grid USA. "Meanwhile, our U.S. operating companies have played an important role in National Grid Transco's growing global success. Adopting the National Grid name as our identity reinforces the bond among our U.S. operating businesses and builds on the international strength of our parent company."

Jesanis emphasized that the name change will have no impact on customer service or local operations. Implementation of the name change is targeted for the fall.

"This change will have no effect on how our local distribution companies continue to meet our commitments to customers," Jesanis said. "Operation decisions exclusively remain under the control of the local companies across our four-state territory."

The plans occur in conjunction with a proposal to change the full name of the London-based parent group from National Grid Transco plc to National Grid plc.

The proposal to change the parent company name requires shareholder approval and appears as a ballot item in a proxy statement sent to investors. Results of the vote will be announced at National Grid Transco's July 25 shareholders' meeting in Birmingham, England. The name change for the U.S. companies does not require shareholder consent.

A new logo unifying all National Grid companies is part of the rebranding. The logo will be used on distribution company trucks, signs, uniforms, mailings and other materials. A copy of the logo is available at our website, www.nationalgridus.com.

National Grid, through the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas, serves close to 4 million customers across 29,000 square miles of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. Its distribution companies include: Massachusetts Electric Company, Nantucket Electric Company, Granite State Electric Company, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., and Narragansett Electric Company.

National Grid Transco (LSE:NGT; NYSE:NGG) is an international energy delivery business with principal activities in the regulated electricity and natural gas industries. The company owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network 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, through its gas distribution business, delivers gas to over 10 million homes and businesses in Britain. It also has a number of businesses operating in related areas such as wireless infrastructure for broadcast and telecommunications, metering and interconnectors.