JANUARY Entering the German market: EDF announces plans to acquire 25.01% of Energie Baden-Württemberg's (EnBW) capital from the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. EnBW is Germany's third-largest electricity company. Subject to the approval of the European Commission, the acquisition provides EDF with a major foothold in the German Market. That approval was given in February 2001 for a 34.5% stake, under specific conditions. Expanding our stake in Light:The EDF Group increases its stake in Light, Brazil from 11.55% to 31.8%. Light, Brazil's leading electricity distributor, serves 3 million customers in and around Rio de Janeiro. MARCH Making headway in the UK:The Group acquires Sutton Bridge. The gas-fired 790 MW plant is one of Europe's most modern installations. Further expanding our stake in Light:By increasing its stake in Light's capital to 41%, EDF becomes the company's major stockholder. Brazil now ranks second in EDF's international development, after the United Kingdom. APRIL Moving forward in Mexico: By acquiring 51% of the Altamira 2 combined-cycle plant in Tamaupilas, near the Gulf of Mexico, EDF becomes the leading independent electricity producer in the country. Altamira 2 (495 MW) is EDF's third major project in the country. MAY Further increasing our stake in Light: EDF continues to increase its stake in Light, to 49,8%. JUNE Expanding in Poland: EDF acquires 35%, along with Gaz de France (10%), of ZecW SA Wybrzeze in Poland, a producer of heat and electricity in the Gdansk region. AUGUST Increasing involvement in South Africa: The EDF Group increases its participation in PN Energy Services to 50%. The South African firm is leading the electrification of the Khayelitsha township, near Cape Town. SEPTEMBER Working out a European-wide social policy: Talks begin between EDF management and union representatives from affiliate companies to create a European-wide Joint Committee (Comité d'entreprise). OCTOBER Acquiring a majority stake in Light: EDF boosts its equity share in the company to 57.93%. Diversifying generation assets in the UK: The Group signs an agreement to acquire the 2000 MW Cottam coal-fired plant. Thanks to this acquisition and the earlier purchase of Sutton Bridge, London Electricity now produces 4.4% of UK electricity generation. DECEMBER Broadening activity in Hungary: EDF acquires 89% of Budapesti Erömü Rt (BERt) in Hungary. BERt supplies heat and electricity in the Budapest area. Making further inroads in Poland: EDF increases its holdings in Kogeneracja SA, a Wroclaw-based co-generation company, to 28.34%. Again expanding stake in Light: The EDF Group increases its stake in Light to 58.37%. Back to top JANUARY Responding efficiently to exceptional weather conditions: EDF rehabilitates the French electricity network after the December 1999 storms. The Group's unprecedented mobilization with its European partners allows it to rapidly reconnect 3.4 million customers. FEBRUARY Providing top quality heating: Three years after its launch, EDF's Vivrélec electric heating systems proves a success. They now equip 33% of all new homes in France. Electric heating now accounts for 37.4% of the market, a 4.3% increase as compared with 1999. APRIL Expanding the network management business: In a joint venture with Eastern Electricity (TXU Europe), London Electricity launches the 24Seven Utility Services Ltd company. For the time being, 24Seven operates and maintains distribution networks for both companies. In time, it will expand to other network management. MAY Providing quality services at competitive prices: EDF lowers electricity rates for the fourth consecutive year, thereby meeting its commitments. On average, EDF rates have fallen by 14% since 1996. JUNE Venturing into e-commerce: London Electricity and Virgin sign a deal to sell electricity and gas online in the UK. Virgin Energy is 75%-owned by Virgin and 25% by London Electricity. DECEMBER Gearing up for multi-service offers: Through a joint venture, EDF and Vivendi Environnement join forces in Dalkia, an energy-service company. Dalkia will regroup EDF's service subsidiaries (Clemessy, Séchaud et Metz, Citelum and Cogetherm). Mobilizing for rapid response: EDF reaffirms its 2005 objective: restoring electricity to 80% of customers within 24 hours, and to 95% within 5 days, in exceptional circumstances such as the storms which hit France in 1999. FIRE, the Rapid Electricity Intervention Force designed to help restore electricity to customers in case of widespread power failures, is launched. Back to top MARCH Constantly upgrading safety: Second ten-year safety inspection of four nuclear reactors. The inspection is part of EDF's program to maintain and upgrade its 34 first-generation nuclear reactors (900 MW). Preparing the future: Presentation of a fuel cell test installation in France (Chelles, near Paris). It proves the cell to be a promising innovative technology in decentralized generation. APRIL Launching new high tech installations: The second unit of the Civaux nuclear plant comes on stream. It is the most technologically advanced model of our high-pressure water reactor series. MAY Proceeding apace with environmental certification: The Vitry-sur-Seine thermal power plant is certified ISO 14001 for its environmental performance. It is the second plant to be recognised in this way, after the Le Havre plant in 1999. JUNE Harnessing solar power: EDF and TotalFinaElf are chosen to set up one of the largest solar energy programs worldwide. The two groups will provide electricity to 50 000 people in the state of Bahia, Brazil, using solar panels. JULY Acquiring a key asset for renewable energy: The EDF Group acquires 35% of SIIF Energies, a cutting-edge firm specialized in renewable energy technologies. SEPTEMBER Launching the largest windfarm in Africa: Koudia Al Baïda, one of the world's largest windfarms, comes on stream. It will generate 226 GWh, 2% of Morocco's total annual electricity consumption. EDF owns 49% of the plant. OCTOBER Proceeding apace with environmental certification: The La Maxe thermal power plant is certified ISO 14001. Deepening co-operation with China: The "Beijing Blue Sky" project is announced. It is designed to combat air pollution in the Chinese capital. EDF and its Chinese partners will replace obsolete coal furnaces with gas-fired combined cycle plants. Back to top FEBRUARY Moving towards a European electricity market: The law on the modernization and development of public service industries is approved by the French parliament on February 10. The 1996 European directive designed to create a unified European electricity market is thereby made effective in France. MARCH A new and efficient regulatory framework underway: The Electricity Regulation Commission (CRE), an independent body overseeing competition and the electricity market in France, is created. The CRE guarantees equal and transparent access to the French electricity transmission and distribution networks. Going forward with market opening: EDF redefines its shareholding in CNR (Compagnie Nationale du Rhône) which is to become an independent entity under the new law. APRIL Consolidating the European regulatory environment: The framework agreement on cross-border electricity tariffs is enacted. MAY Reinforcing the industry: The French Electricity Union (UFE) is created. It regroups all French electricity producers and distributors. Its objective is to promote and strengthen the industry's position locally and globally. It will also be a partner in industry-wide collective bargaining. JUNE Moving forward with unbundling: A Transmission Management Network (Réseau de Transport d'Electricité, RTE) is created. This independent structure is responsible for electricity transmission throughout France, operates under the supervision of the Electricity Regulatory Commission (CRE) and guarantees equal access for all network users. French customers increasingly free to choose suppliers: New eligibility thresholds are introduced on May 29. Customers using more than 16 GW per year can now choose their suppliers. Back to top