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)
Subsidiariessee 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.

Foundation[edit]

The Electric Supply Corporation Limited was registered on 8 April 1897 by the 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[edit]

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[edit]

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
Undertaking First electricity Operated by
Carnoustie ?
Dalkeith 5 March 1904 Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
Dollar 19 March 1904 Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
Dumbarton Dumbarton Corporation, 1923
Jedburgh 1 December 1903 Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
Melrose Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
St Andrews Electric Supply Corporation Ltd, 1923
Electric Supply Corporation English undertakings
Undertaking First electricity Operated by
Chelmsford 14 April 1890 Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923
Dawlish Dawlish Electric Light and Power Co, 1923
Exmouth Exmouth Urban District Council, 1923
Falmouth Electric Supply Corporation Ltd., 1923 & 1946
Hendon Hendon Electric Supply Co. Ltd.
Hitchin Hitchin Urban District Council, 1923
Launceston Launceston and District Electric Supply Co. Ltd., 1923
Sidmouth Sidmouth Urban District Council,1923
Stevenage ?
Teignmouth Teignmouth Undertaking J. & W. Purves, 1923
Totnes 31 May 1904 Electric Supply Corporation, 1923

Operating data[edit]

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
Year Equivalent 8-candlepower lamps Electricity sold, MWh Gross earnings£, Net revenue£,
1905 45,800 3,000
1906 72,000 7,200
1907 101,300 12,900
1908 125,800 17,000
1909 144,300 19,900
1911 172,202
1912 186,207
1918 281,824 7,130 51,378
1919 298,857 6,932 60,085
1920 322,957 7,897 82,665
1921 361,180 7,361 87,282
1922 379,301 6,187 82,183
1927 11,017
1928 11,627
1929 95,485 43,289
1930 96,029 46,233
1931 88,379
1935 107,430
1936 115,928

Generating plant 1923[edit]

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 station Generating plant and fuel source Electricity Supply Max. Load, kW Connections Electricity sold, MWh Surplus revenue over expenses£,
Dalkeith 2 × 55 kW (gas), 1 × 75 kW (gas) 225 & 450 V DC 75 411 127 677
Dollar 2 × 19 kW (gas) 225 V DC 33 158 31 –49
Jedburgh 2 × 32 kW (gas) 225 & 450 V DC 57 276 74 164
Melrose 2 × 32 kW (gas) 225 & 450 V DC 33 287 34 487
St Andrews 1 × 50 kW (steam) 225 & 450 V DC 173 1501 289 2,405

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

Electric Supply Corporation power stations in England 1923
Power station Generating plant and fuel source Electricity Supply Max. Load, kW Connections Electricity sold, MWh Surplus revenue over expenses£,
Chelmsford 1 × 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 DC 529 1655 564 10,191
Falmouth 1 × 50 kW, 2 × 120 kW (steam) 240 & 480 V DC 206 997 229 2,850
Totnes 2 × 32 kW (gas) 225 & 45 V DC 53 300 47.5 –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]

  • Alton District Electricity Company, sold 1931
  • Central Sussex Electricity Limited
  • Dumbarton General Omnibus Company
  • Newhaven and Seaford Electricity Company Limited
  • Peterhead Electricity Company Limited
  • Petersfield Electric light and Power Company Limited
  • Steyning Electric Light Company Limited
  • Uckfield Gas and Electricity Company

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[edit]

Under the terms of the Electricity Act 1947 the British electricity 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings volume 3. London: P.S. King and Sons. p. 537.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Electric Supply Corporation". The Times. 9 June 1931. p. 22.
  6. ^ a b c d 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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