National Grid has awarded contracts worth up to £1.2 billion ($1.79 billion) to Morrison Utility Services and Enterprise Managed Services for gas grid work over the next 10 years, the network operator said today.

Morrison's contract to carry out planned and reactive work on gas distribution networks in the eastern part of Britain is worth up to £70 million a year and Enterprise's contract up to £50 million, a spokesman for National Grid said.

"National Grid is committed to providing the most efficient and effective service to all of its customers, and these new partnerships in Gas Distribution will ensure we continue to work to those high standards," National Grid Executive Director Mark Fairbairn said.

Morrison will maintain and upgrade gas distribution networks in the East Midlands, East Anglia and North London, while Enterprise will work in the West Midlands and Northwest of England.

Two private equity firms, Cognetas and Englefield Capital, bought Morrison Utility Services in March 2008.

Enterprise was bought by a consortium led by private equity company 3i in early 2007 and was de-listed from the London Stock Exchange.