2005 will provide many challenges. Here, members of our Executive Committee give their view of the year ahead.

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson
Chief Financial Officer

In 2005, the focus remains on further efficiency savings across all areas of the business, building on the success of the Integration Programme, which delivered £148 million of savings by the end of 2004, and building on delivering margin through our customer and energy operations.

Paul Cuttill
Chief Operating Officer, Networks Branch

2005 is a year of exciting challenge as we conclude our negotiations with Ofgem for the next period of regulation and then enact our transformation plan to deliver our promised committments on enhanced financial performance and customer service and make even more progress to becoming an employer of choice.

Chris Daniels
Chief Operating Officer, Energy Branch

Meeting the challenge of managing the continuing volatile cost of electricity, gas, coal and now carbon allowances, together with the installation of the sulphur extraction plant (FGD) at Cottam power station, will make the Energy Branch a very lively place in 2005.

Derek Lickorish
Chief Operating Officer, Customers Branch

The year ahead will again be one of challenge and change. Being one step ahead of our competition with product innovation and excellent service delivery wil be the foundation of our success in achieving our ambitions in 2005.

Miriam Maes
Chief Operating Officer, Development Branch

For the Development Branch, 2005 will be an exciting year, in particular our challenge to win new projects and to continue to work on improving the conditions for our employees in terms of health and safety, communications and conditions in the workplace.

Helen Shaw
Human Resources Director

Improving staff satisfaction against a background of continuing business change and development will be a key challenge for the company in the coming year. I regard the achievement of that ambition to be crucial to success in the others and, consequently, much of our attention will be focused there.