ScottishPower today signed a partnership agreement with Union Energy, the TUCs energy company, to market and supply competitively priced gas and electricity to the UKs seven million trade union members.

The Glasgow-based multi-utility was chosen as sole supply partner from a wide field of major energy suppliers on the basis of price, quality of service, marketing effectiveness, environmental track record and employee, social and community relations.

The new alliance, the largest of its kind to be announced in the run-up to full domestic gas and electricity liberalisation, builds on the success of a similar partnership deal signed between ScottishPower and the AA in June.

A joint marketing campaign will begin next month and gas-only contracts will be offered from January 1998 with electricity expected to be available from April onwards. Details of prices and the range of benefits on offer will be revealed when the campaign begins and a Union Energy call centre is opened.

A marketing study carried out during the annual TUC Congress in September indicated that at least one million TUC members would switch to its affiliated energy supplier.

Ian Robinson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower, said: "We are delighted to secure such a major alliance. These partnerships will be hugely influential in helping us towards our aim of offering a package of electricity and gas to customers across the UK.

"ScottishPower has already won around 150,000 gas customers in Scotland and England since the start of domestic liberalisation, an indication of the advantages we enjoy as a multi-utility in maximising the benefits of competition."

John Monks, General Secretary of the TUC, said: "Not only will our members benefit directly from the lower cost energy, but the more who join the more influence unions and their members will have in the industry. ScottishPower is a well-regarded employer with a good track record."