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Scotland special part 1: The last days of the union?

With the Scottish referendum only a matter of weeks away, Utility Week examines the issues facing utilities operating north of the border if Scotland votes for independence.

Thursday, 18 September 2014: polling day, when the Scottish electorate get their say on whether the Great British union should be disbanded.

But with 5.3 million people living in Scotland, it will not be as simple as drawing a line in the ground and waving goodbye to the English. Regulation, investment, retail, transmission and distribution, water, and trading will all feel the force of a “yes” vote.

The debate continues over what will happen should Scotland vote for independence, and many of the key questions remain just that. But with Scottish Independence Day already pencilled in by the SNP for 24 March 2016, these questions must be answered.

In the following articles, Utility Week examines the issues facing the utilities that are based, operate and trade in Scotland, if the yes campaign is successful.

Scotland special part 2: Ed Davey and Fergus Ewing 

Scotland special part 3: Untangling energy will be no easy task

Scotland special part 4: Turbulent times lie ahead for retail sector

Scotland special part 5: Pioneering example

Scotland special part 6: What it could mean for utilities