Editing ScottishPower (section)

=== MANWEB and Southern Water ===
ScottishPower was the larger of the two Scottish energy companies and benefited from being both a generator and supplier of power. In 1995 it acquired the [[regional electricity company]] [[MANWEB]], which supplied [[Merseyside]], North Wales and parts of [[Cheshire]].<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14008517 Manweb confirms bid talks] Independent, 26 September 1995</ref> In 1996 the company diversified into the [[water]] supply business with the purchase of [[Southern Water]]<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E4DF1E39F93AA15756C0A960958260&sec=&spon= Scottish Water gets $2.35bn offer] New York Times, 29 May 1996</ref> (which was sold again in 2002).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1862160.stm Scottish Power to sell water firm for £2bn] BBC News, 8 March 2002</ref>

When the supply of energy into British homes was opened up to competition, ScottishPower entered this market, taking market share from the previous gas supply monopoly [[British Gas plc|British Gas]] and also gaining new market share in England and Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/dcr-reaffirms-rating-for-scottish-power-uk-plc-24-03-2000|title=DCR Reaffirms Rating for Scottish Power UK plc|date=24 March 2000|newspaper=Fitch Ratings|access-date=6 May 2024}}</ref>