ScottishPower and its subsidiary, Manweb, are among the first electricity companies to gain approval to enter the new market for electricity metering services to domestic and small business customers which was opened up to competition this week.

The accreditation, from the regulator Ofgem, will allow ScottishPower's metering business to offer its services to electricity suppliers throughout the UK.

Under the new arrangements electricity suppliers have freedom to choose their own agent to collect and process meter readings and to provide and maintain metering equipment. These activities were previously provided on a monopoly basis by the local electricity company.

ScottishPower invested more than £2 million in its preparations for the introduction of full competition to the last major part of the energy marketplace.

Charles Berry, ScottishPower's Executive Director of Customer Sales and Services, said : "ScottishPower and Manweb were also in poll position when competition was introduced to the domestic market two years ago and we are pleased again to have met our requirements for the domestic metering market.

"As a utility with a UK presence offering electricity, gas and water services we have competitive strength to gain new business from the new arrangements", he added.