Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company

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Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company
FormerlyShropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Company
Company typePublic limited company
IndustryEnergy: electricity generation and supply
Founded1903
Defunct31 March 1948
FateDissolved by nationalisation
Successor British Electricity Authority and Midlands Electricity Board
HeadquartersLondon
Area served
Shropshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and South Wales
Key people
see text
ServicesElectricity supply
Owner Edmundsons Electricity Corporation Limited

The Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company was an electricity generating and supply organisation that operated in the West Midlands and South Wales. It was established in 1903 and was dissolved as a consequence of the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

Contents

History

Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Act 1903
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act for incorporating and conferring powers on the Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Company.
Citation 3 Edw. 7. c. ccxxxvii
Dates
Royal assent 14 August 1903
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1905
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 5 Edw. 7. c. clx
Dates
Royal assent 4 August 1905
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1906
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 6 Edw. 7. c. clxxxv
Dates
Royal assent 4 August 1906
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1914
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 4 & 5 Geo. 5. c. lxxxiv
Dates
Royal assent 31 July 1914
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1916
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. li
Dates
Royal assent 23 August 1916
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1918
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. xliii
Dates
Royal assent 8 August 1918
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1923
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company to make further provisions with reference to the separate undertaking of that Company and for other purposes.
Citation 13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. xcvi
Dates
Royal assent 2 August 1923
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Act 1930
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to confer further powers upon the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company and for other purposes.
Citation 21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. clxxxix
Dates
Royal assent 1 August 1930
Other legislation
Repealed by Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power (Consolidation) Act 1938
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to consolidate the Shropshire Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Acts and Orders 1903 to 1933
Citation 1 & 2 Geo. 6. c. lviii
Dates
Royal assent 13 July 1938

The Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Company was established in 1903 under the terms of the Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Act 1903 (3 Edw. 7. c. ccxxxvii). [1] Further acts were obtained in 1905 (5 Edw. 7. c. clx), 1906 (6 Edw. 7. c. clxxxv), 1914 (4 & 5 Geo. 5. c. lxxxiv), 1916 (6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. li), 1918 (8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. xliii) and 1923 (13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. xcvi). The name was changed to include Staffordshire in 1905. The company's aim was to supply electrical energy to authorised undertakings and to others requiring a supply of power. Its area of supply included Shropshire, Worcestershire and part of Staffordshire. This was later extended by acquisitions to include Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. [2]

The company intended to build its own generating stations but initially purchased the existing stations of smaller electricity undertakings. These included the following (with the original owner, construction and purchase dates): [3] [2]

Stourport power station

During the First World War the two major undertakings in the Midlands, the Shropshire Company and the Birmingham Corporation, proposed to build two large power stations to meet their joint needs. These would be the 30 MW Nechells power stations and the 45 MW Stourport power station. However, the proposal failed on the question of financing. [4] The Shropshire Company eventually built Stourport power station which was commissioned in 1927. This enabled the smaller, less efficient, stations at Dudley, Kidderminster and Redditch to be closed. [2]

Developments in the 1930s

The Shropshire Company became part of the Edmundsons Electricity Corporation Limited which by 1931 was itself part of the Greater London and Counties Trust. [4]

The Shropshire Company continued to purchase, or obtain a controlling interest in, further electricity undertakings and closed the power stations as a bulk supply was available from its network. These included the smaller power stations at: [2]

In addition to the above towns the company supplied electricity to Bewdley, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, Halesowen and Oldbury. [5]

In 1937 the Company purchased a majority shareholding in the South Wales Electric Power Company. [6]

Nationalisation

The Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company was abolished on 31 March 1948 under the terms of the Electricity Act 1947 which nationalised the British electricity supply industry. [7] The company's power stations and electricity transmission systems were vested in the British Electricity Authority. [8] The local distribution systems and the electricity sales functions were vested in the Midlands Electricity Board (MEB).

Key people

The chairmen of the company included:

The directors of the company in 1921 were: [1]

The registered office was at 88 Kingsway, London.

Generating plant

Technical details of the Shropshire Company's power stations, and later constituent power stations, were as follows: [3]

Shropshire Electric Company power stations in 1923
Power stationGenerating plant typeAC capacity, kWDC capacity, kWMaximum load, kWConnected load, kWLoad factor %
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company power stations
DudleySteam turbines and engines2,00090021,73061,23925.8
Kidderminster1,5001,100
Smethwick30,6251,000
Future constituent power stations
RedditchSteam turbines and engines4,460–1,7404,01023.1
Church StrettonGas engine–1005033323.2
LedburyGas and oil engines–705311314.2
LudlowGas engines and hydro–1107330012.9
Ross-on-WyeSteam engine and gas engine–906927413.2
TewkesburyGas and oil engines–856118025.5

By 1946 the Shropshire Company operated only Stourport A power station. The details for 1946 were: [9]

Following nationalisation the British Electricity Authority built Stourport B station (1950–54).This had a generating capacity of 120 MW. [10]

Operations

The growth of the Shropshire Company's business is shown in the general trend of an increase in the amount of electricity sold and the connected load. [1] [5] [9]

YearElectricity sold, MWhConnected load, kW
191414,474–
191520,798–
191644,615–
191755,678–
191862,260–
191933,27345,326
192054,48649,957
192154,49658,557
192234,51161,240
192337,56368,967
1931193,431–
1936234,900–
1946714,526178,164

The combined electricity output from Dudley, Kidderminster and Smethwick power stations was used for the following purposes: [3]

Electricity use 1921–23
Electricity UseUnitsYear
192119221923
Lighting and domesticMWh1,0391,1921,418
Public lightingMWh474549
TractionMWh4,6884,3174,224
PowerMWh42,12422,78029,243
Bulk supplyMWh6,5986,1762,629
Total useMWh54,49634,51137,583

The amount of electricity generated and the revenue from sales in 1923 were as shown: [3]

Electricity generated and revenue 1923
Power stationElectricity generated, MWhRevenue from sales  of electricitySurplus of revenue over costs
Dudley, Kidderminster and Smethwick49,211£233,341£10,375
Redditch3,533£23,637£8,442
Church Stretton101.7£2,405£1,547
Ledbury66.3£1,580£470
Ludlow82.7£2,752£1,295
Ross-on-Wye80.1£2,308£281
Tewkesbury114.2£2,419£488

See also

List of pre-nationalisation UK electric power companies

Timeline of the UK electricity supply industry

List of power stations in England

Related Research Articles

The City of London Electric Lighting Company Limited (CLELCo) was a British electricity undertaking. It was formed in July 1891 to generate and supply electricity to the City of London and part of north Southwark. It owned and operated Bankside power station on the south bank of the river Thames. The company provided and stimulated demand for electricity, increased its generating capacity, and competed and co-operated with other electricity undertakings in London. The company was dissolved on 1 April 1948 when the British electricity industry was nationalised.

Stourport power stations were two electricity generating stations that supplied electricity to Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and to the wider West Midlands area from 1927 to 1984. The two stations, A (1927–78) and B (1950–84), were collocated on a joint site adjacent to the River Severn south of Stourport-on-Severn.

Bath power station supplied electricity to the City of Bath and the wider area from 1890. The station was originally built and operated by the City of Bath Electric Lighting and Engineering Company Limited. The power station was on a site in Dorchester Street adjacent to the Old Bridge over the River Avon. The City of Bath Corporation assumed ownership in 1897. The power station was redeveloped several times: including a major rebuilding with new equipment in the 1920s. The station was closed in the late 1960s and was subsequently demolished.

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.

The Wessex Electricity Company was an electricity generating and supply organisation that operated in south and south-west England from its establishment in 1927 until it was dissolved as a consequence of the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

The Edmundsons Electricity Corporation Limited was an electricity holding company that controlled and owned over 60 electricity undertakings throughout England and Wales. It was established in 1897 and was dissolved, despite its objections, as a consequence of the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

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.

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.

Ramsgate power station supplied electricity to the town of Ramsgate, Kent, England and the surrounding area from 1905 to 1958. The station was operated by the Ramsgate and District Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The coal-fired power station had a maximum electricity generating capacity of 2 MW.

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.

Nechells power stations refers to the three coal-fired electricity generating stations that supplied electricity to Birmingham and the surrounding area from 1915 to 1982.

The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited was registered in 1897 to carry out the business of an electricity supply company. It supplied electricity to an area of 75 square miles in the West Midlands, and operated a power station at Ocker Hill, Tipton. The corporation was abolished in 1948 when the UK electricity supply industry was nationalised.

The Market Drayton Electric Light and Power Company Limited was established in 1902 to provide electricity to Market Drayton, Shropshire, England and the surrounding area. It was abolished upon nationalization of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

The Leicestershire and Warwickshire Electric Power Company Limited provided electricity to consumers in parts of the English midland counties of Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Electricity was supplied by the company from 1913 until the nationalization of the electricity supply industry in 1948.

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.

The Cleveland and Durham County Electric Power Company supplied electricity to the Tees district and to south and west County Durham, England. It generated and supplied electricity from 1904, merged with Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply Company in 1917 and was dissolved in 1933.

The West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority was a United Kingdom statutory body established in 1925 with the responsibility to "provide or secure the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity” in the Midland counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire. The Authority acquired electricity in bulk from electricity undertakings for distribution, and operated power stations. The Authority was abolished upon nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948.

The North West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority was a United Kingdom statutory body established in 1929 with the responsibility to "provide or secure the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity” in parts of the Midland counties of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. The Authority acquired electricity in bulk from electricity undertakings for distribution, and operated power stations. The Authority was abolished upon nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948.

Joint Electricity Authorities were statutory bodies established in the United Kingdom in the 1920s which aimed to provide a cheap and abundant supply of electricity to consumers. This was achieved by constructing and operating power stations, and electricity transmission and distribution systems on a coordinated basis in regional Electricity Districts overseen by Joint Electricity Authorities.

The North Wales and South Cheshire Joint Electricity Authority supplied electricity to an extensive area of North Wales and parts of Cheshire and Shropshire. As constituted in 1923 the Joint Authority transferred all its rights to distribution of electricity in the area to the North Wales Power Company. The authority was effectively the power company. Both the joint authority and the power company were abolished in 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company". The Times. 21 July 1921. p. 14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Electricity generating stations for public supply in the West Midlands 1888–1977" (PDF). 1978. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO.
  4. 1 2 Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: Macmillan. pp. 58, 228, 247. ISBN   0333220862.
  5. 1 2 "Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company". The Times. 16 June 1924. p. 19.
  6. ↑ "Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company". The Times. 13 April 1938.
  7. ↑ "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60–61, 69, 76. ISBN   085188105X.
  9. 1 2 Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 13.
  10. ↑ Garrett, Frederick (1959). Garcke’s Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-98.
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