Lancashire Electric Power Company

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Lancashire Electric Power Company
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryEnergy: Electricity generation and supply
Founded1900
Defunct31 March 1948
FateAbolished by nationalisation
Successor British Electricity Authority and North Western Electricity Board
Headquarters
196 Deansgate, Manchester
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
3 power stations
Area served
Lancashire south of the Ribble (1,200 square miles)
Key people
 George Balfour (Conservative politician) Chairman 1938
ProductsElectric power
ServicesElectricity supply
£169,138 (1923)
Divisions Supply districts, 11 in 1923, 8 in 1948

The Lancashire Electric Power Company was one of the largest private electricity companies in the UK. It was established in 1900 and generated and supplied electricity to 1,200 squares miles of Lancashire from 1905 until its abolition under nationalisation in 1948.

Contents

Electric power companies

Lancashire Electric Power Act 1900
Act of Parliament
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation 63 & 64 Vict. c. ccxxxv
Dates
Royal assent 6 August 1900

The Lancashire Electric Power Company was established under the provisions of the Lancashire Electric Power Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict. c. ccxxxv). This was one of several acts passed in 1900 and 1901 that defined the legal powers of electricity supply companies. They were enabled to generate and supply, in perpetuity, electricity to authorised undertakings and for industrial and manufacturing purposes over a wide area. [1] A standard clause safeguarded the privileges of existing company and local authority electricity undertakings. Despite this safeguarding the Lancashire Electric Power Bill had met with considerable opposition in Parliament during 1900. The Lord Mayor of Manchester and many local authorities had taken steps to oppose the Second Reading of the bill. They saw a powerful electricity company as a threat to their municipal privileges. [2] Nevertheless, the Act was passed and the power company was established. [3]

Others companies and their empowering acts in 1900 and 1901 included Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply Company Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict. c. ccxl); North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict. c. cclxxvi); South Wales Electrical Power Distribution Company Act 1900 (63 & 64 Vict. c. cclxxxii); Cleveland and Durham County Electric Power Act 1901 (1 Edw. 7. c. civ); Yorkshire Electric Power Act 1901 (1 Edw. 7. c. cxvi); and the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Electric Power Act 1901 (1 Edw. 7. c. cxxi). [3]

Lancashire Electric Power Act 1906
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation 6 Edw. 7. c. cxcix
Dates
Royal assent 4 August 1906

The Lancashire Company sought further supply powers in 1906, these were granted under the terms of the Lancashire Electric Power Act 1906 (6 Edw. 7. c. cxcix). The company now supplied electricity to all of Lancashire south of the Ribble, except for the Boroughs of Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Bootle, Southport and central Bolton, an area of about 1,200 square miles. [4]

Electricity supply

The Company's original generating station was the Radcliffe Power Station which was opened by the Earl of Derby on 9 October 1905. [5] This had two 1,500 kW turbo-alternator sets manufactured by British Thomson-Houston, generated at 10 kV (the first power station in the UK to transmit by bare electric conductors at 10kV).

The first customer was the Acme Spinning Company in Pendlebury which with 75,000 spindles was the first cotton spinning mill in Lancashire to be designed for powering by electricity. [5]

The plant at Radcliffe was soon duplicated with six boilers feeding four 1,500 kW sets. The equipment was so simple that the whole power station could be operated by a shift of six or seven men. It reached full capacity in December 1922 with ten sets giving an electricity generating capacity of 42,375 kW. [1]

Interconnections

During the First World War discussions were held on cooperation between undertakings. The Lancashire Electric Power Company, Manchester Corporation and Salford Corporation linked up their five power stations and their distribution networks forming an interconnected system from Manchester to Wigan. [2]

In 1923 the maximum electrical load on the system was 34,000 MW and there were 47,000 connections on the system. [1] Radcliffe power station generated 90,378 GWh. The power sold was used as follows: [1]

Lancashire Electric Power Company
Electricity UseElectricity sold, GWhPercent
Lighting and domestic1,431.01.88
Public lighting56.70.07
Traction137.50.18
Power51,768.067.98
Bulk supply to other undertakings22,760.029.89
Total76,155.0100.00

The area of supply Lancashire Electric Power Company was divided into 11 districts: Barton-upon-Irwell, Bury Road, Kearsley, Little Hulton, Little Lever, Ramsbottom, Tottington, Tyldesley, Westhoughton, Whitefield and Worsley. [1]

In 1923 the revenue from the sales of current was £300,620 giving  surplus of revenue over expenses for the company of £169,138. [1]

In the mid-1920s Bolton and Rochdale also joined the network which then had a combined output of 650 GWh. [2] Schematic diagrams of the Lancashire electricity system are held by the Science Museum Group and some are available online. [6]

New stations and the grid

A second power station was commissioned at Padiham in 1926 with a generating capacity of 30,625 kW and a third at Kearsley in November 1929 with eventually two 32,000 kW and two 51,600 kW generating sets. Kearsley was able to burn waste material from local factories.

All three power stations became 'selected' stations of the Central Electricity Board (CEB) which was able to select which power stations were to generate and supply electricity. [7]

When the national grid was being constructed between 1928 and 1933 an interconnected ‘Lancashire ring’ was formed encompassing Bolton, Padiham, Rawtenstall, and Kearsley. [2] By the late 1930s the company were supplying electricity to spinners and weavers, iron. steel and coal industries, bleachers and dyers, engineering works, railways and electro-chemical processes. [8] During 1937 a total of 791 GWh of electricity were sold to 143,000 consumers and 342 GWh were taken by the CEB. The company's profit that year was £182,000. [8]

By 1948 the Lancashire Electric Power Company had been divided into eight supply districts: Chorley, Golborne, Mid-Lancs., Ormskirk, Ramsbottom, Westhoughton, Whitefield, and Worsley. The districts were interconnected by 33 kV mains and transformer stations. [6]

Nationalisation

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948. [9] The Lancashire Electric Power Company was dissolved on 31 March 1948. Its power stations at Radcliffe, Padiham and Kearsley and the high voltage transmission lines were vested in the British Electricity Authority. [9] The low voltage distribution network and the electricity sales functions were vested in the North Western Electricity Board when the total capacity was 284,750 kW.

Radcliffe Power Station closed in 1959, Padiham "A" in 1969 and Kearsley in 1981. Padiham "A" was replaced by a new power station on an adjacent site in the late 1950s (Padiham "B") but finally closed in 1993.

The company pioneered accurate metering with its own Meter and Testing Department in Walkden.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kearsley Power Station</span> Former coal-fired power station

Kearsley Power Station was a coal-fired power station in Stoneclough, near Kearsley, Bolton, England. It was designed in 1927 by Dr H.F. Parshall for the Lancashire Electric Power Company. The original installation was known as Kearsley 'A', comprising two British Thomson-Houston (B.T.H.) turbo-alternators rated at 32.25 megawatts each. Further extensions became Kearsley 'B' (1936/38), with two more B.T.H. turbo-alternators each capable of producing 51.6 megawatts. Finally Kearsley 'C' (1949) was completed with two more B.T.H. machines rated at 52 megawatts each. The station closed in 1980 when only 'B' station remained operational. The 5 cooling towers were demolished during the week of 14 May 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padiham Power Station</span> Coal-fired power station in Lancashire, England

Padiham Power Station was a coal-fired power station in Padiham, east Lancashire, England, which began operation in 1926 and generated power from 1927 until it was closed in 1993.

The two Bolton power stations supplied electric power to the town of Bolton and the wider area between 1894 and 1979. The first power station was located in Bolton town centre but by 1910 was too small to meet the growing demand for electricity. A large coal-fired power station was commissioned in 1914 situated at Back o’ th’ Bank about 1 mile north of the town centre. The electricity generating station was redeveloped several times until it was closed in 1979 and was subsequently demolished and the site redeveloped.

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.

Accrington power station was a coal and refuse fired electricity generating station located in the centre of Accrington, Lancashire. The station supplied electricity to Accrington and to Haslingden and the Altham and Clayton-le-Moors areas between 1900 and 1958.

The Lancaster power stations provided electricity to the Lancashire town and city of Lancaster and the surrounding area from 1894 to 1976. The first power station was built and operated by Lancaster Corporation and started generating electricity in April 1894. The second power station was built during the First World War near the Lune Aqueduct to provide electric power for a munitions factory. When the factory closed after the war the power station was purchased by the corporation to provide electric power throughout its supply area.

The Percival Lane power station in Runcorn was built and operated by the Mersey Power Company Limited. It comprised two stations A and B commissioned in 1921 and 1941. The station supplied electricity to commercial, industrial and domestic users over a wide area of 95 square miles around the River Mersey including Widnes, Ellesmere Port and Runcorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Electric Power Company</span>

The Yorkshire Electric Power Company was founded in 1901 to provide a supply of electricity to commercial and industrial users throughout the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It built and operated power stations and constructed overhead electric power lines across an area of 1,800 square miles (4662 km2). The company’s power stations were at Thornhill, Barugh, Ferrybridge and Mexborough. The company promoted and stimulated demand for electric power and it was financially profitable for its shareholders. The Yorkshire Electric Power Company was dissolved in 1948 when the British electricity supply industry was nationalised. Its power stations were vested in the British Electricity Authority and its electricity distribution and sales functions were taken over by the Yorkshire Electricity Board.

Lister Drive power station was a series of generating stations that supplied electricity to the City of Liverpool and the wider area from 1900 until 1980. They were owned and collaboratively operated by Liverpool Corporation and Marcus Kemp Coal Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was developed in several phases: designated No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 stations. A gas turbine station was commissioned in March 1965.

Fleetwood power stations were two generating stations that supplied electricity to the town of Fleetwood, England and the surrounding area from 1900 to 1981. The first station was owned by the Fleetwood and District Electric Light and Power Syndicate and later by Fleetwood Urban District Council. The second station was owned and operated by the state following the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948; this power station was decommissioned in October 1981.

The Macclesfield group power stations are three relatively small electric power stations at Alderley Edge, Buxton, and Macclesfield, England. They supplied electricity to their respective towns from 1890s to the 1960s. The oil-engine stations were operated by a succession of private and public owners prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. The power stations were redeveloped as a group in the 1950s as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced.

Burnley power station supplied electricity to the town of Burnley, Lancashire from 1893 to 1958. The electricity station was owned and operated by Burnley Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced, and had an ultimate generating capacity of 8 MW in the 1920s. The station closed in 1958.

Rochdale power station supplied electricity to the town of Rochdale, Lancashire from 1901 to the 1958. The coal-fired power station was owned and operated by Rochdale Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced, and had an ultimate generating capacity of 10.7 MW in the 1920s. The station closed on 1 April 1958.

Bury power stations are two generating stations that supplied electricity to the town of Bury, Lancashire and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1970. They were owned and operated by Bury Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power stations were rebuilt several times to replace older plant and to meet an increasing demand for electricity.

Nelson power station supplied electricity to the town of Nelson, Lancashire and the surrounding area from 1892 to 1960. The power station was owned and operated by Nelson Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped in 1922 to 1925 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.

Newbury power station supplied electricity to the town of Newbury, Berkshire and the surrounding area from 1905 to 1970. It was owned and operated by a succession of public and private organisations. It comprised, at various times, hydro-electric, gas engine and diesel engine powered plant with a maximum output capacity of 2.57 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.

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.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Electric Power Company Limited provided electricity to consumers in the English midland counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Electricity was supplied by the company from 1904 until its abolition upon the nationalization of the electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply - 1920-1923. London: HMSO. pp. 33, 172–75, 442–47.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. pp. 27, 82, 85, 121. ISBN   0333220862.
  3. 1 2 "Local Acts of Parliament 1900". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Grace's Guide to British Industrial History (16 January 2015). "Lancashire Electric Power Company". Grace;s Guide. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Lancashire Electric Power Company". The Commercial Overprint Society of Great Britain. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Lancashire Electric Power Company system diagrams". Science Museum Group. 1930–48. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "The Lancashire electric light and power company limited". The Times. 17 April 1929. p. 21.
  8. 1 2 "Lancashire electric light and power". The Times. 4 March 1938. p. 22.
  9. 1 2 Electricity Council (1987). Electricity Supply in the United Kingdom. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60–61. ISBN   085188105X.
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