County of London Electric Supply Company

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County of London Electric Supply Company Limited
FormerlyCounty of London Electric Lighting Company Limited; County of London and Brush Provincial Electric Lighting Company Limited
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryEnergy: electricity generation and supply
Founded30 June 1891
Defunct31 March 1948
FateDissolved by nationalisation
Successor British Electricity Authority and London Electricity Board
Headquarters
London
Area served
County of London, Essex and Kent
Key people
See text
Production output
2,099 GWh (1946)
ServicesElectricity supply
Revenue£10,469 (1897), £3,602,230 (1936)

The County of London Electric Supply Company Limited (C.L.E.S.Co) was a British electricity undertaking. It was incorporated as a public company in 1891 to generate and supply electricity to parts of south west London and two parishes adjacent to the City of London. It owned and operated power stations at Wandsworth and City Road. From 1925 it cooperated with three other London companies, with the intention of centralising electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The company was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

Contents

Background

The County of London Electric Lighting Company Limited was registered on 30 June 1891, to supply electricity to areas of north, south and south west London. [1] The company was granted Provisional Orders to supply electricity as follows: [1]

The Company changed its name to the County of London and Brush Provincial Electric Lighting Company Limited in 1893. [1]  By 1903 it was called the County of London Electric Supply Company Limited. [2]

Operations

Management

The company had five chairmen between 1896 and 1948:

The company management board in 1922 was composed of: [3]

The company’s registered address was Moorgate Court, Moorgate Place, London EC2. [3]

Power stations

The company initially built two power stations, one at City Road and one in Wandsworth.

City Road power station

The City Road power station was located on the City Road basin on the Regent's Canal (51°31'48"N 0°05'50"W). It had coal-fired boilers generating steam for Brush compound engines coupled directly to Mordey dynamos. The initial plant installed was capable of supplying 80,000 8-candle-power lamps. [1]

In 1923 the plant at the City Road power station comprised: [4]

These machines had a total generating capacity of 10,500 kW of AC and 1,725 kW of DC.

The electricity available to customers was:

  • 2-phase AC 50 Hz 104 Volts
  • DC 530 Volts

City Road power station was not a 'selected station' under the Central Electricity Board's 1926 scheme, as a consequence the Company decommissioned it in 1929. [5]

Wandsworth power station

See main article: Wandsworth power station

The plant at Wandsworth power station used coal-fired boilers and Brush Universal machines coupled directly to Mordey dynamos. The plant was capable of supplying 40,000 8-candle-power lamps. In addition to the power stations, work included the laying of cables in St Luke, Clerkenwell, Wandsworth, Putney, Streatham, Clapham, Holborn and Camberwell. [1]

By 1923 the plant comprised: [1]

  • Coal-fired boilers generating up to 322,400 lb/h (40.62 kg/s) of steam which was supplied to:
  • Generators:
    • 1 × 1,000 kW reciprocating engine,
    • 3 × 1,500 kW steam turbo-alternators,
    • 2 × 5,000 kW steam turbo-alternators,
    • 2 × 6,000 kW steam turbo-alternators.

These machines had a total generating capacity of 27,500 kW of alternating current.

The electricity available to customers was: [4]

  • 2-phase AC 50 Hz 205 and 404 Volts
  • 3-phase AC 50 Hz 205 and 404 Volts
  • DC 410 Volts

Wandsworth power station was operational until 1964. [5]

Electricity supply

The business of the company increased to meet the rising demand for electricity. The following table summarises the growth of the company in terms of capacity of the plant, the electricity load, the amount of current sold, and the number of customers. [1] [2] [4] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [3] [11] [12]

County of London Electric Supply Company operating data, 1897–1946
YearCapacity of plant, kWMax load, kWElectricity sold, MWhNo. of customersConnected load, kW Load factor, per cent
1897 (City Road)333
1897 (Wandsworth)117
19049,2505,3425,7555,22212.3
190713,970
191220,30012,80022,51220,24644,76320.0
191325,74322,315
191428,01224,212
191530,56225,913
191635,02926,994
191737,59527,998
191840,32628,400
191934,00025,70042,48831,39082,22418.9
192138,00027,90049,55343,00087,90227.3
192238,00029,80051,22091,55026.1
192339,72537,65065,67954,000119,24125.7
1931509,829
1932604,599
1933412,901250,100693,374163,982492,26938.3
1934776,094
1935885,403
1936412,500319,9511,034,605268,769828,46240.7
19371,914,953
1946 (Wandsworth)19,16021,228
1946 (Barking)418,2002,077,998

The growth in sales of electricity, in GWh , is shown on the following graphs.

Electricity use

Electricity was originally used for lighting but ‘power’ uses were soon established. The following table illustrates the quantities and changing patterns of use. [7] [4] [9]

End use of electricity, 1919–1936, MWh
Use, MWhYear
19191921192219231936
Public lighting992761961124,960
Domestic supply38,24314,02613,17715,748200,338
Power and heat29,67031,56234,750194,561
Traction4,14600066,912
Bulk supply5,5806,2857,633567,837
Total42,48849,55351,22058,2421,034,606

Financial statistics

The capital required to establish, build and operate the business was raised through the offer of shares. Capital expenditure was needed for the purchase of land, buildings, machinery, mains, transformers, meters, electrical instruments, legal costs, fixtures and furniture at the stations. [1] The capital expenditure in 1896 and 1897, associated with the commissioning of the power stations at City Road and Wandsworth, amounted to: [1]

Capital expenditure, 1896–97
Year18961897
City Road£155,596£214,257
Wandsworth£117,126£196,543

Profits were made through the sale of electricity which provided an income for the Company and its shareholders. An example of the sums involved is shown in the table. [1] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Sales revenue, working cost and profit, 1897–1923
YearRevenue from electricity salesWorking cost of generationExcess of revenue  over expenditure
1897  (City Road)£7,141£4,176£2,965
1897 (Wandsworth)£3,328£2,047£1,281
1912£216,665£87,954£117,145
1919£543,284£301,603£235,174
1922£723,226£402,817£340,428
1923£835,348£358,122£502,937
1936£3,602,230£2,421,204£1,181,026

Shareholders dividends were paid throughout the operational life of the company. Dividends expressed as a percentage of the total capital raised in a given year were as shown, together with the average dividends paid by the London company electricity undertakings. [6] [7]

County of London Company shareholder dividends 1895-1919
Year1895189618971898189919001901190219031904190519061907
Dividend %00.591.111.463.104.484.774.834.754.694.985.005.00
Average dividend %4.014.665.545.105.154.605.295.555.515.795.655.405.14
Year190819091910191119121913191419151916191719181919
Dividend %5.055.115.055.285.345.575.645.635.635.635.826.00
Average dividend %5.125.075.075.115.185.335.104.874.685.324.965.76

Expansion

The company expanded its operations, particularly in East London and into south Essex and Kent.

By 1913 the County of London Company was supplying the Metropolitan Boroughs of Bermondsey, Camberwell, Finsbury, Holborn, Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth; the Urban Districts of Merton and Morden, Romford, and Tilbury; and the Rural Districts of Croydon, Orsett and Tilbury. [6]

To meet the requirements of the expanded supply area, capital expenditure on new plant and equipment was required, as shown on the table below. [6] [7]

Capital expenditure, 1907–1919.
Year190719081909191019111912
Capital expenditure£50,926£84,215£64,667£71,135£62,897£95,723
Year191419151916191719181919
Capital expenditure£167,680£78,848£53,022£63,616£88,398£149,116

Electricity supplies to further areas continued. By 1937 the Company was supplying electricity additionally to: the Metropolitan Boroughs of Barking, Beddington and Wallington, Dagenham, Mitcham, Reigate, Sutton and Cheam and Wimbledon; the Urban Districts of Banstead, Billericay, Brentwood, Carshalton, Caterham and Warlingham, Hornchurch, Thurrock, Wanstead and Woodford; and the Rural Districts of Epping, and Godstone. [9]

The Company supplied users such as the South Metropolitan Electric Tramways and Lighting Company (from 1916, supplying 2,021.0 MWh in 1919); the South London Electric Supply Corporation (from 1917, supplying 5,340.4 MWh in 1923). [8]

Between 1918 and 1936 the Company acquired 14 other electricity companies. [13] It was able to consolidate development over a large area of south east England through its Kent Power Company subsidiary. [13]

In 1920, the County of London Electric Supply Company applied for permission to build a power station at Creekmouth in Barking capable of expansion to 600 MW. To finance the construction the Company issued shares, there were offers in 1921 and 1922. The 1922 offer consisted of 500,000 six per cent cumulative preference shares and 500,000 ordinary shares. [3] Barking A station was built, and was commissioned in 1925. [5]

The County of London Company and three others in south and east London promoted the London Electricity (No. 1) Act 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. lxii). The four companies were: the City of London Electric Lighting Company; the County of London Electric Supply Company Limited; the South London Electric Supply Corporation Limited; and the South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited. They established a joint committee to specify how generating stations of each company were operated. [14] The companies remained district electricity supply undertakings; although they were physically joined with interconnecting cables. [14] The companies envisaged that power stations such as Barking would provide enough capacity for their electricity requirements. The Act required equal consideration for the interests of shareholders and consumers. Dividends to shareholders were limited to 7 percent per year and the funds that could be carried forward in the accounts were restricted. Profits above these conditions formed a ‘consumers’ benefit’ in the form of lower prices. [14]

The company built Barking B power station which was commissioned in 1933. [5]

Government policy

Under the terms of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 (16 & 17 Geo. 5. c. 51) [15] the Central Electricity Board (CEB) was established. [16] The CEB identified high efficiency ‘selected’ power stations that would supply electricity most effectively. The CEB also constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region.

City Road power station was not a selected station, as a consequence the Company decommissioned it in 1929. [5]

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 54). [17] The County of London Electric Supply Company undertaking was abolished, ownership of Wandsworth and Barking power stations were vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). [16] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the County of London electricity undertaking were transferred to the London Electricity Board (LEB).

Wandsworth power station was operational until 1964. [5]

Barking A and B power stations were operational until 1969 and 1976 respectively. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Ribble Power Station was a coal-fired electricity generating station on the River Ribble in Penwortham near Preston, Lancashire, England. The station was built by the Corporation of Preston to replace a small privately-run generating station in the town. It supplied electricity to Preston and the surrounding area from 1923 until 1976. The station was expanded with new equipment in 1943–47 which remained in operation until the power station was closed in 1976 and was subsequently demolished.

Huddersfield power station supplied electricity to the town of Huddersfield and the wider area from 1893 to 1981. It was owned and operated by Huddersfield Corporation until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1910s, and in the 1930s to 1950s. The station was decommissioned in October 1981.

Wandsworth power station supplied electricity to the London district of Wandsworth and to Putney, Tooting Graveney, Streatham and Clapham from 1897 to 1964. It was owned and operated by the County of London Electric Lighting Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped during its operational life until it was decommissioned in 1964.

The South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited was a British electricity undertaking. It was established in 1904 upon the amalgamation of two south London companies which had supplied electricity in south east London since 1893. It owned and operated a power station at Blackwell Point and one at Penge. From 1925 it formed an association with three other London companies, with the intention of centralising electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The South Metropolitan Company was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

The South London Electric Supply Corporation Limited was a British electricity undertaking. It was established in 1896 to supply electricity to the parish/borough of Lambeth in south London. The Corporation owned and operated a power station at Loughborough Junction. From 1925 it formed an association with three other London companies to centralise electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The South London Electric Corporation was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

Barrow-in-Furness power station supplied electricity to the town of Barrow-in-Furness and the wider area of Lancashire, England from 1899 to about 1960. It was owned and operated by Barrow-in-Furness Corporation until the nationalisation of the UK electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped throughout its operational life. Barrow-in-Furness Corporation also operated Coniston hydro-electric power station.

Reading power station, Berkshire, England supplied electricity to the town of Reading and the surrounding area from 1895 to the 1960s. It was initially owned and operated by the Reading Electric Supply Company Limited, then from 1933 by the Reading Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times with new equipment replacing retired plant. The station was decommissioned in the late 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salisbury power station</span>

Salisbury power station supplied electricity to the English city of Salisbury and the surrounding area from 1898 to c. 1970. It was owned and operated by Salisbury Electric Light and Supply Company Limited prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to incorporate new plant to replace retired equipment. The facilities included a water driven turbine.

Scarborough power station supplied electricity to the town of Scarborough and the surrounding area from 1893 to 1958. It was owned and operated by the Scarborough Electric Supply Company Limited from 1893 to 1925, then by Scarborough Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The coal-fired power station had an ultimate electricity generating capacity of 7 MW prior to its closure in October 1958.

South Shields power station supplied electricity to the borough of South Shields and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1958. It was owned and operated by South Shields Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to meet increasing demand It was decommissioned in 1958.

Leeds power station, also known as Whitehall Road power station, supplied electricity to the city of Leeds and the surrounding area from 1893 to 1965. It was initially built, owned and operated by the Yorkshire House-to-House Electricity Company Limited. Leeds Corporation took over the electricity undertaking in 1898 and generated and distributed electricity until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to meet increasing demand for electricity.

Llanelly power station, also known as North Dock power station, supplied electricity to the town of Llanelly and the surrounding area from 1910 to the late 1960s. The power station was owned and operated by a succession of companies, including the Llanelly and District Electric Supply Company Limited, prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped in the 1920s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Warrington power station supplied electricity to the town of Warrington, Lancashire and the surrounding area from about 1900 to 1979. The power station was initially developed by the Warrington and District Electric Light and Power Company Limited, this was taken over by Warrington Corporation, which operated the power station prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Thanet power station, also known as St. Peter's power station, supplied electricity to the towns of Broadstairs and Margate and other locations on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, England from 1901 to 1964. The station was owned and operated by the Isle of Thanet Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The coal-fired power station had an ultimate electricity generating capacity of 6 MW.

St Helens power station supplied electricity to the Borough of St Helens and the surrounding area from 1896 to the late 1960s. The power station was developed by the St Helens Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Wimbledon power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Wimbledon and the surrounding area from 1899 to 1968. The power station was developed by the Wimbledon Corporation which operated it up to 1933. The London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority operated the station from 1933 until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped by the owners several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Folkestone power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Folkestone and the surrounding area from 1898 to 1960. The power station was built by the Folkestone Electricity Supply Company Limited which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped in the 1920s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Southport power station supplied electricity to the town of Southport and the surrounding area from 1894 to the late 1960s. The power station was built by the Southport Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. Birkdale power station was operated by the Birkdale District Electric Supply Company Limited and originally supplied Birkdale Urban District until the district was incorporated into the Borough of Southport in 1911.

Woking power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Woking and the surrounding area from 1890 to 1960. The power station was operated by the Woking Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped after the First World War to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Uxbridge power station supplied electricity to the District of Uxbridge and the surrounding area from 1902 to 1962. The power station was built by the Uxbridge and District Electric Supply Company Limited which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 54–60.
  2. 1 2 London County Council (1905). London Statistics 1904–05 vol. XV. London: London County Council. pp. 434–5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The County of London Electric Supply Company". The Times. 24 July 1922. p. 16.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 156–59, 394–99.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Metadyne. "London's power stations". metadyne. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 London County Council (1915). London Statistics 1913–14 vol. XXIV. London: London County Council. pp. 536–63.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 London County Council (1922). London Statistics 1920–21 vol. XXVII. London: London County Council. pp. 276–305.
  8. 1 2 3 London County Council (1926). London Statistics 1924–25 vol. XXX. London: London County Council. pp. 290–309.
  9. 1 2 3 4 London County Council (1939). London Statistics 1936–38 vol. 41. London: London County Council. pp. 370–93.
  10. ↑ London County Council London Statistics 1932–33 vol.37, LCC 1934 333–51 (1934). London Statistics 1932–33 vol. 37. London: London County Council. pp. 333–51.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "The County of London Electric Supply Company". The Times. 13 December 1938. p. 23.
  12. ↑ Electricity Commission (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 7.
  13. 1 2 Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. p. 247. ISBN   0333220862.
  14. 1 2 3 Murray, S. (2018). "Electrifying the City: Power and Profit at the City of London Electric Lighting Company Limited". The London Journal. 43 (1): 72–91. doi:10.1080/03058034.2017.1357939. S2CID   158884197.
  15. ↑ "Electricity (Supply) Act 1926". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  16. 1 2 Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology 1987. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN   085188105X.
  17. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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