PARIS (Standard&Poor's) March 30, 2011-- Standard&Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on the Republic of Portugal to 'BBB-/A-3' from 'BBB/A-2' and removed both ratings from CreditWatch with negative implications on March 29, 2011. The outlook is negative. Standard&Poor's believes that this could have a negative impact on the creditworthiness of Portugal-based utilities REN-Redes Energeticas Nacionais, SGPS, S.A. (BBB/WatchNeg/A-2) and EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A. (BBB/Watch Neg/A-2). We expect to publish a more detailed analysis of any impact on the credit ratings on REN and EDP as soon as permitted to do so under applicable EU law. The delay in our communication is to meet the requirements of EU