We've moved a lot in the past. And we plan to move a lot more in the future too.

It all started in 1898 in Essen. The Rheinisch-Westfälische Elektrizitätswerks-Aktiengesellschaft, RWE for short, was founded. A purely municipal company, but one which was soon heading for success through acquisitions and participating interests and expanded its supply zone to the Rhineland Palatinate, Rhine-Hesse and Lower Saxony. But there were tough times to follow, the years of global economic crisis and the first and second world wars. At the end of 1944, RWE is hit especially hard. Many of its power plants are seriously damaged in air raids, the head office in Essen is totally destroyed. Improvisation talent is then called for like never before in rebuilding after the war. In the Rhineland, the construction work starts for the new power plants Weisweiler, Fortuna III and Frimmersdorf II, which go onto the grid in 1955 and 1956. In 1960 RWE, together with Bayernwerk, builds the first industrial nuclear reactor in Germany; in 1964, the lignite-fired power plant Frimmersdorff II becomes the world's biggest power plant with an output of 2000 MW. RWE continues to grow and invests billions in environmental protection. In 1988, RWE takes over Deutsche Texaco AG, Hamburg, and founds the chemicals and petroleum group RWE DEA AG. New business segments are penetrated and the diversity of the operations of RWE and its subsidiaries require a corporate restructuring in 1990.

With the liberalisation of the previously largely regulated energy market over the last decade, a historic turning point has been reached in the energy industry. RWE has used this time to develop into the leading electricity and gas company in Europe and concentrate on its core competence again. Because that is what has made RWE the leading partner for energy and energy-related services in Europe.

You see, we've already written a whole lot of corporate history. But there'll certainly be many chapters to follow. We would be delighted if you would work with us on them.