SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC
Operating under the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks brand, the company acts as a regional electricity distribution network operator and is a subsidiary of the FTSE 100-listed energy group SSE plc.
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Cash
£22m
0% vs 2025
Net assets
£1.5bn
-0.3% vs 2025
Employees
3,028
+1.6% highest in 3 filed years
Profit before tax
£74m
-86.4% lowest in 3 filed years
Net assets
3-year trend · vs Utilities median
Accounts
3-year trend · Δ = latest vs prior filed period · latest reflected 2026-03-31
| Metric | Trend | 2024-03-31 | 2025-03-31 | 2026-03-31 | Δ vs prior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £681,200,000 | £1,137,400,000 | £696,200,000 | -38.8% | |
| Operating profit | £193,700,000 | £620,700,000 | £163,600,000 | -73.6% | |
| Profit before tax | £119,300,000 | £544,700,000 | £74,100,000 | -86.4% | |
| Net profit | £94,000,000 | £414,800,000 | £56,900,000 | -86.3% | |
| Cash | £11,100,000 | £21,900,000 | £21,900,000 | 0% | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £4,235,900,000 | £4,410,100,000 | £5,223,900,000 | +18.5% | |
| Net assets | £1,411,100,000 | £1,478,200,000 | £1,474,000,000 | -0.3% | |
| Equity | £1,411,100,000 | £1,478,200,000 | £1,474,000,000 | -0.3% | |
| Average employees | 2,452 | 2,979 | 3,028 | +1.6% | |
| Wages | £134,400,000 | £141,800,000 | £148,900,000 | +5% | |
| Directors' remuneration | £5,000,000 | £7,600,000 | £7,700,000 | +1.3% | |
| Directors' pension contributions | £200,000 | £200,000 | £100,000 | -50% | |
| Highest paid director | £1,800,000 | £3,900,000 | £3,200,000 | -17.9% |
Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. The Δ column is the change from the prior filed period as a percentage of |prior|; lines a company doesn't report show —. About these numbers
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2024-03-31 | 2025-03-31 | 2026-03-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 28.4% | 54.6% | 23.5% | |
| Net margin | 13.8% | 36.5% | 8.2% | |
| Return on capital employed | 4.6% | 14.1% | 3.1% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 68.4% | 70.6% | 73.5% | |
| Current ratio | 0.68x | 0.55x | 0.94x | |
| Interest cover | 2.46x | 7.96x | 1.76x |
Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.
Name history
Renamed 2 times since incorporation
- SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC 2001-03-06 → present
- SSE DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH) LIMITED 2001-01-10 → 2001-03-06
- DUNWILCO (828) LIMITED 2000-10-23 → 2001-01-10
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- FRS 101
- Reporting scope
- Standalone (parent only)
- Auditor
- Ernst & Young LLP
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“Having reviewed the financial strength of the Group, the Directors are satisfied that the Group, and the Company itself, will remain funded for the going concern period through to 31 December 2027. The Directors have therefore concluded it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis.”
Group structure
- SOUTHERN ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION PLC · parent
- Electralink Limited 8.79%
- DCUSA Limited 1.69%
- Smart Energy Code Company Limited 36%
- Retail Energy Code Company Limited 1.06%
Significant events
- “During the year, the Company was adversely impacted by several named storms, most notably Storm Floris, an unprecedented summer event characterised by record wind speeds and widespread storm-force gusts that resulted in significant network damage. In addition, Storm Amy in October 2025 which was classified as an exceptional '1-in 20' event.”
- “The company incurred exceptional restructuring costs amounting to £26.6m in relation to the ongoing transformation of SSEN Distribution and continue to incur costs which is expected to continue into the 31 March 2028 financial year.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
9 active · 31 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DANCER, Nick | Secretary | 2025-08-01 | — | — |
| ALGAARD, Eliane Marthe Jeanne Marie, Dr | Director | 2020-08-21 | Sep 1974 | British |
| BROWN, Paul Scott | Director | 2024-06-01 | Jun 1969 | British |
| BURCHELL, Christopher Derek Dyne | Director | 2021-01-04 | Dec 1973 | British |
| FRERK, Maxine | Director | 2023-05-01 | Apr 1959 | British |
| MANUELPILLAI, Dinesh Michael | Director | 2023-06-30 | Nov 1983 | British |
| NEENAN, Klair | Director | 2023-10-01 | Nov 1977 | Irish |
| PEACOCK, Samuel John | Director | 2023-05-01 | Nov 1982 | British |
| PHILLIPS-DAVIES, Paul Morton Alistair | Director | 2023-04-03 | Jul 1967 | British |
Show 31 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONNELLY, Lawrence John Vincent | Secretary | 2001-03-19 | 2009-01-22 |
| GETTINBY, Helen | Secretary | 2014-07-01 | 2015-06-02 |
| MANDERSON, Lilian | Secretary | 2009-01-22 | 2014-06-30 |
| MCCOMBE, Helen Elizabeth | Secretary | 2022-10-26 | 2025-08-01 |
| MCLAUGHLIN, Mark | Secretary | 2015-06-02 | 2022-10-26 |
| D.W. COMPANY SERVICES LIMITED | Corporate Secretary | 2000-10-23 | 2001-03-19 |
| ALEXANDER, Fraser Mcgregor | Director | 2002-10-01 | 2023-04-03 |
| ALKIRWI, Mazin | Director | 2021-02-23 | 2023-04-03 |
| BORTHWICK, Alistair John | Director | 2018-09-07 | 2019-06-28 |
| CARGILL, Dale Neil | Director | 2015-10-28 | 2020-01-23 |
| CRAWFORD, Douglas James | Director | 2000-10-23 | 2001-03-19 |
| FUNNELL, Ian Grant | Director | 2009-11-30 | 2012-10-12 |
| GARDNER, David | Director | 2012-11-16 | 2019-01-31 |
| HOGARTH, Stuart John | Director | 2011-01-24 | 2020-03-23 |
| HOOD, Colin William | Director | 2001-03-19 | 2011-09-15 |
| KENNEDY, Steven Alexander | Director | 2002-03-11 | 2018-09-07 |
| LAUGHLAND, James Graham | Director | 2001-03-19 | 2002-02-20 |
| MACTAGGART, Alexander John Lorne | Director | 2021-02-23 | 2023-04-03 |
| MARCHANT, Ian Derek | Director | 2001-03-19 | 2002-10-01 |
| MARSHALL, Katherine Helen | Director | 2017-12-14 | 2023-09-30 |
| MATHIESON, Mark William | Director | 2007-11-21 | 2014-12-12 |
| MCDONALD, Robert | Director | 2019-01-31 | 2023-04-03 |
| MCDONALD, Robert | Director | 2015-06-01 | 2017-12-14 |
| MCDONALD, Robert | Director | 2009-11-30 | 2011-01-21 |
| MCEWEN, Rachel | Director | 2016-05-27 | 2023-05-01 |
| MCLEOD, Aileen Elizabeth, Dr | Director | 2011-01-24 | 2015-03-31 |
| NICOL, Colin Clarke | Director | 2014-12-12 | 2021-01-04 |
| POLSON, Michael Buchanan | Director | 2000-10-23 | 2001-03-19 |
| ROUGH, Mark Charles | Director | 2020-04-01 | 2023-07-31 |
| RUTHERFORD, David | Director | 2014-04-01 | 2024-06-30 |
| STEEL, Gary Glachan | Director | 2014-04-01 | 2023-05-01 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
| Name | Kind | Nature of control | Notified | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ssen Distribution Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors | 2023-04-03 | Active |
| Scottish And Southern Energy Power Distribution Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors | 2016-04-06 | Ceased 2023-04-03 |
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 172 total filings
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-27 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2026-08-14 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2026-07-03 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2026-07-01 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-11-04 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-08-13 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2025-08-01 | TM02 | officers | Termination secretary company with name termination date | |
| 2025-08-01 | AP03 | officers | Appoint person secretary company with name date | |
| 2025-07-07 | CH01 | officers | Change person director company with change date | |
| 2024-11-12 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2024-08-18 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2024-07-01 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-06-06 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-11-13 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with updates | |
| 2023-10-06 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-10-06 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2023-08-11 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2023-08-10 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2023-07-24 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2023-06-21 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 5
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 0
- Officers resigned
- 0
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.