SSE announces £2bn share issue as part of massive upgrade plans 

In Ireland, SSE Airtricity supplies over 460,000 electricity customers and almost 310,000 gas customers

SSE chief financial officer Barry O'Regan said the company's decision to issue equity was not taken lightly but is 'absolutely the right thing to do'.

Energy and utility giant SSE jumped to a record after the utility outlined a £33 billion (€37bn) plan to upgrade grids and boost renewable energy that will be partly funded by issuing new shares.

The spending update brings clarity to investors and analysts who have sought more details on how the UK-headquartered utility plans to fund its ambitious goals in the years ahead. Shares soared as much as 13% in London, the most in five years.