ScottishPower has been judged the UK's top utility and second-placed company overall in an annual survey of environmental performance of UK businesses by the Business in the Environment organisation.

The results of the Index of Corporate Environmental Engagement, announced today ( Wednesday) in London, provide a benchmark of environmental responsibility and take into account how companies target the environment as a management challenge. Scores are based on environmental performance, objectives and impact, among other factors.

This is ScottishPower's best result since the index began five years ago and the improvement is made against a slight fall in the average scores for the FTSE 100.

Ken Vowles, ScottishPower Executive Director UK Power Operations, said he was delighted with the company's top placing, which he said was recognition of its treatment of the environment as a mainstream business issue.

"ScottishPower is a leader in its work to promote energy efficiency to help businesses and to fight fuel poverty, enabling disadvantaged customers to benefit from the competitive energy market.

"We are one of Europe's biggest windfarmer developers and by expanding our renewable energy portfolio we are helping business customers and the government meet green energy and emission targets set under the Climate Change Levy.

"In addition, measures at our conventional power stations, such as the introduction of clean coal technology, and investment in new gas-fired generation, means we have been able to develop our generation business, continue a commitment to coal and meet our targets on emissions", Ken Vowles added.

Further Information:
Gordon Laidlaw,              ScottishPower Press Office,         0141 248 8200