Trystan Casey
The history of electricity in the UK is a fascinating one. From the early days of electric lighting in the 19th century to the establishment of a National Grid in 1926, the availability of electricity in British homes has undergone a significant transformation. Initially, electricity was primarily generated by individual companies or wealthy individuals with their own generators, and the main demand for it was for street lighting. Over time, its use became more widespread, with the electrical industry developing a successful marketing strategy in the 1930s and electricity becoming increasingly associated with modernity. By the mid-1950s, over half of consumers had access to electrical sockets, and the post-war boom further transformed living standards, leading to our modern-day reliance on electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first public experimental electrical supply | 1881 |
| Location of first public experimental electrical supply | Godalming |
| Power source of first public experimental electrical supply | Water |
| Year electricity was available in 6% of British homes | 1920 |
| Year of the Electricity Supply Act | 1926 |
| Year over half of consumers had sockets | Mid-1950s |
| Year electricity was available in 80% of industrial sectors | 1936 |
| Year over 12,000 premises had been connected to electricity | 1936 |
| Year of the first taste of centralized electricity system outage | 1970 |
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What You'll Learn
- In 1920, only 6% of British homes had electricity
- The National Grid was established by the 1926 Electricity Supply Act
- By the 1950s, over half of British consumers had plug sockets
- In the 1930s, electricity was marketed as modern
- The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was responsible for electricity generation in England and Wales
In 1920, only 6% of British homes had electricity
The high cost of electricity put pressure on the Conservative PM at the time, Stanley Baldwin, to find a solution. Baldwin did not want to promote nationalisation, but he also recognised that electricity was too expensive for both consumers and industrialists. His answer was the 1926 Electricity Supply Act, which established a National Grid to connect the 122 most efficient power stations in the country.
The Grid was initiated by the state but run by one of the first public corporations, the Central Electricity Board. It involved constructing 4,000 miles of transmission line and cable across Britain. By the start of World War II, two-thirds of homes were connected to the grid, and by the mid-1950s, over half of consumers had sockets in their homes.
The biggest driver for fitting plug points was the electric iron. Electricity boards promoted electrical appliances, especially high-current ones like cookers and immersion heaters, and electricity showrooms became common on high streets to encourage the use of electricity in homes. The grid also had a significant impact on British industry, with manufacturing accounting for almost 40% of Britain's gross domestic product in the post-war period up to the early 1970s, much of it on electrically-driven production lines.
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The National Grid was established by the 1926 Electricity Supply Act
The National Grid was established by the 1926 Electricity (Supply) Act, which amended the law on the supply of electricity in the United Kingdom. The Act established the Central Electricity Board (CEB), a statutory body with the duty of supplying electricity to authorised undertakers and appointing consultative technical committees.
The CEB was responsible for purchasing the output of selected stations and selling it to local undertakings, which then distributed the electricity. This interconnection between undertakings reduced the need for spare standby plants, resulting in significant cost savings. The Act also provided for the standardisation of frequency, which was a specific requirement outlined in sections 4 (1)(c) and 9.
The Electricity (Supply) Act of 1926 was a landmark piece of legislation that addressed issues in the British electricity supply industry, which had been characterised as a "diagnosis of failure" from 1919 to 1926. The Act gave the Electricity Commissioners the powers they needed to establish the CEB and build and operate the National Grid, while also controlling, but not owning, the power stations.
The National Grid, operating at 132 kV, was constructed between 1927 and 1933, initially as a series of regional grids with auxiliary interconnections for emergency use. By 1938, the grid was operating as a single integrated unit, and the proportion of spare generating plants had been significantly reduced, resulting in capital savings and lower generation costs. The National Grid proved its worth during World War II, providing power to replace lost output during the Blitz.
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By the 1950s, over half of British consumers had plug sockets
The adoption of electricity in British homes was a gradual process that spanned several decades. Initially, electricity was prohibitively expensive for most people, with only 6% of British homes connected to electrical power in 1920. However, by the mid-1950s, a significant milestone was reached, and over half of British consumers had plug sockets in their homes.
The journey towards widespread electrification in the UK involved a range of factors and stakeholders. The establishment of the National Grid through the 1926 Electricity Supply Act was a pivotal moment, connecting the most efficient power stations and laying the groundwork for expanded access. This act was driven by Conservative PM Stanley Baldwin, who sought a compromise between nationalisation and the high cost of electricity for consumers and industrialists.
The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB), established through nationalisation, played a central role in ensuring a stable supply of electricity to England and Wales, while similar boards oversaw electricity generation in Scotland. The post-war period presented challenges due to austerity measures, but demand for electricity continued to grow. The electrical industry rose to the occasion with a successful marketing strategy in the 1930s, associating electricity with modernity.
Local authorities also played a part in encouraging electrification. The assisted wiring scheme, initiated in 1930, resulted in over 12,000 premises being connected by 1936. However, this expansion faced opposition from some rural residents who objected to the construction of pylons. Despite these challenges, the adoption of electricity in British homes continued to grow, driven by the increasing availability of electrical appliances and the dependence of manufacturing on electrical production lines.
By the mid-1950s, the availability of plug sockets in over half of British homes marked a significant turning point in the electrification journey. The electric iron was a key driver for the adoption of plug sockets, and electricity boards actively promoted high-current appliances like cookers and immersion heaters to optimise their infrastructure. This period laid the foundations for the modern consumer society, with electricity becoming an integral part of daily life in Britain.
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In the 1930s, electricity was marketed as modern
The history of electricity in the UK is a long and convoluted one, marked by various technological milestones. While some accounts attribute the demonstration of electric conduction by Englishman Stephen Gray as the starting point, leading to the invention of glass friction generators in 1740, others highlight Benjamin Franklin's experiments and the development of the battery by Alessandro Volta in 1800.
In the 1880s, Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and other inventors introduced practical electric power systems. However, access to electricity was initially limited to urban areas due to the higher population density making it more economical to provide electricity to a larger number of customers in a smaller area.
By the 1920s, most cities and towns in the UK had access to electricity, and a majority of urban households were wired for electricity. It was during this time that electricity and electrical appliances were heavily marketed as modern conveniences that would improve people's lives, particularly targeting women who were tasked with domestic affairs. Advertisers promised women higher levels of civilization and greater control within their homes, positioning electricity as a marker of progress and modernity.
Into the 1930s, with government-sponsored electrification programs, rural households started to gain access to electricity. This was a significant development, as only about 10% of rural areas in the UK had electricity before then. The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) played a crucial role in this expansion, providing loans to electric cooperatives and educating people on how to use electricity and electrical appliances safely.
The 1930s also saw advancements in power generation technology, with reheat steam turbines becoming the norm and unit ratings reaching 300-MW output levels. This decade marked a significant step forward in making electricity more accessible and further entrenched the idea of electricity as a modern convenience, improving the efficiency of work and enhancing the comforts of home life.
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The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was responsible for electricity generation in England and Wales
The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was responsible for electricity generation, transmission, and bulk sales in England and Wales from 1958 until the privatisation of the electricity industry in the 1990s. The CEGB was established on 1 January 1958, taking on the functions of the Central Electricity Authority (1955–1957), which had replaced the British Electricity Authority (1948–1955).
The CEGB's primary duty was to develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated, and economical system of electricity supply in bulk for England and Wales. This included generating or acquiring electricity supplies and managing the national high-voltage transmission system. The CEGB constantly anticipated demand, monitored power stations, and instructed them to adjust electricity production accordingly. They utilised the "merit order" system, ranking generators based on production costs to ensure electricity was produced at the lowest possible price.
The CEGB was headquartered in London and organised into several regions, including the Midlands, South Western, and North Eastern Regions. Each region had its own management structure, including a director-general, director of generation, director of transmission, and financial controller. The Midlands Region, for example, oversaw the operation of 38 power stations, more than 170 substations, and nearly 2,000 miles of grid transmission lines.
During its existence, the CEGB experienced significant growth in electricity demand and sales. Between 1958 and 1987, peak demand more than doubled from 19,311 MW to 47,925 MW. Sales of electricity increased from 79.7 TWh in 1958 to 240 TWh in 1988. The CEGB also embraced technological advancements, introducing thermal and nuclear generating units to supply one of the world's largest integrated power systems.
In the 1990s, the electricity industry in England and Wales underwent privatisation, leading to the dissolution of the CEGB. The CEGB's generation activities were transferred to PowerGen, National Power, and Nuclear Electric, while its transmission activities were taken over by the National Grid Company. Despite privatisation, the experience and expertise gained by the CEGB were carried forward by its successor companies.
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Frequently asked questions
The first public experimental electrical supply was provided in 1881 when the streets of Godalming were lit using electricity generated from water power. However, electricity was initially very expensive and in 1920, only 6% of British homes were connected.
By the mid-1950s, over half of consumers had plug sockets installed in their homes. The biggest driver for this was the electric iron.
The CEB, or Central Electricity Board, was established by the 1926 Electricity Supply Act to promote the use of electricity by industry. By 1936, about 80% of the available electricity supply was used by the industrial sector.
In December 1970, electricity supply workers began an overtime ban which led to a serious breakdown in the supply of electricity within just 8 hours. The army had to send emergency generators to hospitals, and the country was brought to a standstill.
