RNS Number:6603I
Pennon Group PLC
13 March 2003

PENNON GROUP PLC

PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE



Pennon Group Plc today reports on trading prospects for the 12 months to 31
March 2003, prior to entering its close period, and confirms that trading to
date remains in line with market expectations.



Pennon continues to make good progress in delivering its strategy of
outperforming the regulatory contract in South West Water and, in line with
expectations at the beginning of the year, remains confident of delivering
moderate full year growth in operating profit before goodwill from Viridor
Waste.



On 1 October 2002 a Special Interim Dividend of 70p per share was paid out to
shareholders.  This was funded out of the proceeds of the disposal in February
2002 of Viridor Instrumentation.  A share consolidation took place on 2
September in order to maintain comparability of the share price before and after
the payment of the dividend.



Pennon will be announcing its Preliminary Results on Thursday, 29 May 2003.



For further information, please contact:



Pennon


David Dupont - Group Director of Finance                    01392 443381
Jo Finely - Investor Relations Manager                      01392 443401

Financial Dynamics


Andrew Dowler                                               020 7831 3113
Fiona Meiklejohn                                            020 7831 3113



13 March 2003



End transmission


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

TSTSFDFWESDSESD