Electric Supply Corporation Limited

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Electric Supply Corporation Limited
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryElectricity generation and supply
Founded8 April 1897
FounderR.E.B. Crompton see text
Defunct31 March 1948
FateNationalisation
SuccessorCentral Electricity Authority, South Western Electricity Board
HeadquartersLondon
Area served
Great Britain
ProductsElectricity
£115,928 (1936)
Subsidiaries see text

The Electric Supply Corporation Limited was an electricity industry holding company that operated from 1897 until 1948. The corporation and its subsidiary companies generated and supplied electricity to towns and districts in Scotland and England.

Contents

Foundation

Electric Supply Corporation Limited Act 1907
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act for transferring to the Electric Supply Corporation Limited certain undertakings authorised under the Electric Lighting Acts 1882 and 1888 and for other purposes.
Citation 7 Edw. 7. c. xci
Dates
Royal assent 26 July 1907

The Electric Supply Corporation Limited was registered on 8 April 1897 by Crompton and Company Limited to acquire electricity undertakings and to generate and supply electricity for lighting, power and traction. Crompton subsequently transferred its assets to the Electric Supply Corporation Limited. [1]

Management

The founding subscribers to the corporation were: R. E. B. Crompton; F. R. Reeves; H. Stevenson; C. Peel; A. Williams; H. Walker; and F. Holmes. The capital authorized was 1,000 shares of £5 each. [1]

The company's management board in 1904 comprised: Carleton Fowell Tufnell (chairman); Home Gordon; Major Charles Heaton-Ellis; and Colonel Henry Wood. [2]

John George Brand Stone was chairman in 1913, 1923 and 1932. [3] In 1923 the other directors were Sir Gordon Home; Ralph Tichborne Hinches; Edwin Herbert Francis Reeves; Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton; and Kenneth Alexander Scott-Moncrieff (managing director). Kenneth Alexander Scott-Moncrieff was chairman in 1935 and 1937. A.J. Fippard was chairman from 1939 to 1948. [4]

The company's registered office was Salisbury House, London Wall, London until about 1930 when it transferred to Winchester House, Old Broad Street, London. [5]

Operating districts

The towns and urban districts where the Electric Supply Corporation Limited had an interest in developing an electricity system in 1904 were as follows. The date when electricity was first supplied and the subsequent operator is also shown. [6] [2]

Electric Supply Corporation Scottish undertakings
UndertakingFirst electricityOperated by
Carnoustie?
Dalkeith5 March 1904Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
Dollar19 March 1904Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
DumbartonDumbarton Corporation, 1923
Jedburgh1 December 1903Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
MelroseElectric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
St AndrewsElectric Supply Corporation Ltd, 1923
Electric Supply Corporation English undertakings
UndertakingFirst electricityOperated by
Chelmsford14 April 1890Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
DawlishDawlish Electric Light and Power Co, 1923
ExmouthExmouth Urban District Council, 1923
FalmouthElectric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923 & 1946
HendonHendon Electric Supply Co. Ltd.
HitchinHitchin Urban District Council, 1923
LauncestonLaunceston and District Electric Supply Co. Ltd., 1923
SidmouthSidmouth Urban District Council,1923
Stevenage?
TeignmouthTeignmouth Undertaking J. & W. Purves, 1923
Totnes31 May 1904Electric Supply Corporation, 1923

Operating data

The growth of electricity supplies and income from sales of electricity (1905 to 1936) are shown on the table. [7]

Electric Supply Corporation growth of demand and revenue
YearEquivalent 8-candlepower lampsElectricity sold, MWhGross earnings£,Net revenue£,
190545,8003,000
190672,0007,200
1907101,30012,900
1908125,80017,000
1909144,30019,900
1911172,202
1912186,207
1918281,8247,13051,378
1919298,8576,93260,085
1920322,9577,89782,665
1921361,1807,36187,282
1922379,3016,18782,183
192711,017
192811,627
192995,48543,289
193096,02946,233
193188,379
1935107,430
1936115,928

Generating plant 1923

The engineering details of the power stations operated by the Electric Supply Corporation Limited in 1923 were as follows. [6]

Electric Supply Corporation power stations in Scotland 1923
Power stationGenerating plant and fuel sourceElectricity SupplyMax. Load, kWConnectionsElectricity sold, MWhSurplus revenue over expenses£,
Dalkeith2 × 55 kW (gas), 1 × 75 kW (gas)225 & 450 V DC75411127677
Dollar2 × 19 kW (gas)225 V DC3315831–49
Jedburgh2 × 32 kW (gas)225 & 450 V DC5727674164
Melrose2 × 32 kW (gas)225 & 450 V DC3328734487
St Andrews1 × 50 kW (steam)225 & 450 V DC17315012892,405

In addition the corporation operated Dumbarton power station on behalf of the local authority. [6]

Electric Supply Corporation power stations in England 1923
Power stationGenerating plant and fuel sourceElectricity SupplyMax. Load, kWConnectionsElectricity sold, MWhSurplus revenue over expenses£,
Chelmsford1 × 28 kW, 2 × 75 kW, 2 × 86 kW, 1 × 120 kW, 1 × 150 kW, 1 × 300 kW, 1 × 320 kW (all steam driven)100, 200, 240, 400, 180 V AC, 110 V DC529165556410,191
Falmouth1 × 50 kW, 2 × 120 kW (steam)240 & 480 V DC2069972292,850
Totnes2 × 32 kW (gas)225 & 45 V DC5330047.5–88

In addition the corporation operated Exmouth and Hitchin power stations on behalf of the respective local authority. [6]

By 1930 the Electric Supply Corporation Limited either owned the following undertakings or subsidiary companies: [5]

It was noted in 1935 that the corporation had owned 11 undertakings in 1925 but by 1935 it owned just three: Dumbarton, Falmouth and St Andrews, plus seven operated by subsidiary companies. [8]

In 1946 the only power station operated by the Electric Supply Corporation was Falmouth which sent out 32.1 MWh with a load of 56 kW. [9]

Dissolution

Under the terms of the Electricity Act 1947 the British electricity industry was nationalized with effect from 1 April 1948. [10] The Electric Supply Corporation Limited was dissolved and its sole power station at Falmouth was vested in the Central Electricity Authority. The remainder of the undertaking was vested in the South Western Electricity Board. [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings volume 3. London: P.S. King and Sons. p. 537.
  2. 1 2 "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 12 July 1904. p. 13.
  3. ↑ "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 1 July 1932.
  4. ↑ "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 26 April 1945. p. 9.
  5. 1 2 "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 9 June 1931. p. 22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Electricity Commission (1925). Electricity Supply 1920–1923. London: HMSO. pp. E160-63 E240-43.
  7. ↑ Electric Supply Corporation The Times various dates 1904 to 1945
  8. ↑ "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 18 April 1935. p. 21.
  9. ↑ Electricity Commission (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 8.
  10. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom. London: Electricity Council. pp. 44, 49. ISBN   085188105X.
  11. ↑ Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke’s Manual of Electricity Supply volume 56. London: Electrical Press Limited. pp. A-110 to A-144.
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