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30-579: The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 ( 9 & 10 Geo. 5 . c. 100) established the statutory body of the Electricity Commissioners ‘to promote, regulate and supervise the supply of electricity’ under the direction of the Board of Trade . The Act provided for the Commissioners to constitute electricity districts and, where necessary, to establish joint electricity authorities (JEAs), ‘to provide or secure

60-508: A department of the United Kingdom government 's Ministry of Transport , which regulated the electricity supply industry from 1920 until nationalisation in 1948. It was responsible for securing reorganisation on a regional basis and considered schemes for centralisation in a small number of large generating stations owned by joint electricity authorities . In 1917, the UK government was planning

90-785: A generating station or main transmission line (section 9) and acquire land (section 10). Extensions and new stations require consent of the commissioners (section 11). Powers of joint electricity authorities Powers of joint electricity authorities (section 12). Transfer of undertakings to joint electricity authorities (section 13), power companies and joint electricity authorities (section 14), subsidiary powers such as abstraction of water, waste heat, by-product plant (section 15). Deprivation of employment (section 16), plans for capital expenditure (section 17). Transitory provisions Construction of interim works (section 18), mutual assistance between undertakings permitted (section  19). Amendments of Electric Lighting Acts Transfer of powers of

120-614: A regional basis. The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 received royal assent on 23 December 1919. Its long title is: ’An Act to amend the Law with respect to the supply of electricity’. The provisions of the Act were as follows. Electricity Commissioners To established a body called the Electricity Commissioners to promote, regulate and supervise the supply of electricity (section 1 (1)).  The number of commissioners and their duties (section 1 (2–8). The Board of Trade to exercise its duties through

150-459: A single unified system with state regulation and finance and that means should be found for including distribution as well. This recommendation was very far-sighted but considered too ambitious by the government. If acted upon it would have anticipated the Electricity Act 1947 by 28 years. Parliament rejected what would have been the effective nationalisation of the industry but enacted two of

180-711: A value of £2,841,390 to 26,058 consumers. The gross operating surplus was £484,607. The West Midlands JEA was abolished on 31 March 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 which nationalised British electricity supply industry. The WMJEA’s assets were split between the British Electricity Authority (generation and transmission) and the Midlands Electricity Board (distribution). Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 ( 9 & 10 Geo. 5 . c. 100)

210-504: The Electricity (Supply) Act 1922 had enabled then to borrow money to finance electricity schemes: North Wales & South Cheshire JEA, London and Home Counties JEA, West Midlands JEA and North West Midlands JEA. The Electricity (Supply) Act 1922 ( 12 & 13 Geo. 5 . c. 46). Enabled joint electricity authorities to borrow money to finance electricity schemes. The London Electricity (No. 1) Act 1925 ( 15 & 16 Geo. 5 . c. lxii) and

240-639: The London Electricity (No. 2) Act 1925 ( 15 & 16 Geo. 5 . c. lxiii) permitted the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority to purchase company electricity undertakings in the London area. The Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 ( 16 & 17 Geo. 5 . c. 51), established the Central Electricity Board . The Electricity Act 1947 ( 10 & 11 Geo. 6 . c. 54), nationalised the UK electricity supply industry. The Electricity Commissioners and

270-524: The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution ; the 30 MW Wolverhampton power station; the 28 MW Walsall Birchills power station ; and the 6.65 MW West Bromwich station. The JEA built the 200 MW Ironbridge A power station (commissioned 1932). However, there was local opposition to the proposal for Ironbrige, landowners in Buildwas opposed the compulsory purchase of land. A local inquiry

300-694: The Advisory Council to the Ministry of Reconstruction produced the Report of the Committee of Chairmen on Electric Power Supply. The committee were asked to submit general comments or suggestions on the broad administrative and commercial issues which had arisen out of the Williamson Report. The Birchenough Committee generally agreed with the Williamson Report but recommended that generation and transmission should be

330-482: The Commissioners (section 3). Commissioners to conduct experiments on electricity supply (section 3). Appointment of advisory committee (section 4). Reorganisation of supply of electricity Determination of electricity districts (section 5). Establishment of joint electricity authorities (section 6). Making orders to confirm schemes (section 7). Powers and duties of joint electricity authorities (section 8). Generating stations A joint electricity authority may own

SECTION 10

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360-817: The London and Home Counties JEA; the North Wales & South Cheshire JEA; the North West Midlands JEA; and the West Midlands JEA. The West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority was formally established on 21 December 1925 by the West Midlands Electricity District Order 1925 made under section 7 of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1919. The district covered an area of about 1,000 square miles, including most of Shropshire , Staffordshire and Worcestershire . The JEA included representatives of

390-533: The Midland Electricity Corporation; Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Cannock and Shrewsbury councils; colliery owners; railway companies; and electricity industry workers. In June 1927 the West Midlands JEA offered for sale £2 million of stock on the stock market, which was used to purchase the generating stations and transmission lines in the district. In late 1927 the West Midlands JEA acquired four power stations: Ocker Hill formerly operated by

420-1046: The Ministry of Health, the Scottish Office and London County Council (section 20). Wayleaves (section  22), supply of apparatus (section 23), alteration of type of current (section 24). Amendment of 1882 Act (section 25), substitution of special for provisional orders (section 26), requirement for accounts (section 27). Financial provisions Revenue and expenditure of joint electricity authorities (section 28), expenses and appropriation of Electricity Commissioners (section 29), other expenses (section 30). General Agreements and arrangements (section 32). Holding inquiries (section 33), power to make rules (section 34). Special orders (section 35). Definitions (section 36). Application to Scotland and Ireland (sections 37 and 38). Transfer of powers of Board of Trade to Minister of Transport (section 39). Short title and construction (section 40). Schedule relating to section 35. Four joint electricity authorities (JEA) were established after

450-706: The Weir Committee in 1925 which led to the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 and the establishment of the Central Electricity Board . The CEB operated alongside the Electricity Commissioners until both were abolished upon nationalisation of the electricity industry on 1 April 1948. Section 58 of the Electricity Act 1947 gave the Minister the power to dissolve the Electricity Commissioners. The Electricity Commissioners existed for some years after nationalisation, and finally closed in 1953. The Electricity Commission

480-421: The broad administrative and commercial issues which had arisen out of the Williamson Report. The Birchenough Committee generally agreed with the Williamson Report but recommended that generation and transmission should be a single unified system with state regulation and finance and that means should be found for including distribution as well. This recommendation was very far-sighted but considered too ambitious by

510-506: The committee's recommendations in a weaker form, including the setting up of the Electricity Commissioners and a number of joint electricity authorities formed by the electricity suppliers in each area. The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 , was based essentially on the Williamson and Birchenough reports and introduced central co-ordination by establishing the Electricity Commissioners, an official body responsible for securing reorganisation on

540-457: The generating stations and purchased by the WMJEA was as shown. In 1937 the key engineering and financial statistics for the WMJEA was as follows. The capacity and output of the individual stations of the WMJEA in 1937 was as shown. 2 × 3.2 4 × 5.5 1 × 13.2 2 × 6.25 2 × 7.5 The output of the individual WMJEA power stations over time was as shown. The West Midlands JEA's principal office

570-442: The government. If acted upon it would have anticipated the Electricity Act 1947 by 28 years. Parliament rejected what would have been the effective nationalisation of the industry but enacted two of the committee's recommendations in a weaker form, including the setting up Electricity Commissioners and a number of joint electricity authorities formed by the electricity suppliers in each area. The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 ,

600-424: The industry (see Publications section). The Electricity Commissioners recognised that their activities had met with limited success, they were involved in many public inquiries and negotiations between electricity undertakings. Their powers of compulsion had been removed from the 1919 Electricity Bill and the period 1920 to 1926 has been characterised as a diagnosis of failure. Some of these issues were addressed by

630-441: The joint electricity authorities were abolished. The ownership of electricity generation and transmission facilities were vested in the British Electricity Authority , and electricity distribution and sales in local electricity boards . The 1919 Act and most other electricity-related British legislation were repealed and replaced by the Electricity Act 1989 . Electricity Commissioners The Electricity Commissioners were

SECTION 20

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660-440: The provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity’, with the agreement of the electricity undertakings concerned. The aim of the joint authorities was to produce electricity more economically by inter-connecting power stations and transmission systems. The authority would acquire all the power stations in the area and build large, efficient and economic super-stations. In the event only four joint authorities were established:

690-553: The provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity’. In 1917, the UK government was planning the reconstruction of the nation's industries after the First World War . The Board of Trade set up the Electric Power Supply Committee, chaired by Sir Archibald Williamson , which proposed the effective nationalisation of the industry. Subsequently, in 1919 under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Birchenough ,

720-518: The reconstruction of the nation's industries after the First World War . The Board of Trade set up the Electric Power Supply Committee, chaired by Sir Archibald Williamson , which proposed the effective nationalisation of the industry. Subsequently, in 1919 under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Birchenough , the Advisory Council to the Ministry of Reconstruction produced the Report of the Committee of Chairmen on Electric Power Supply. The committee were asked to submit general comments or suggestions on

750-556: Was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which amended the law with respect to the supply of electricity. It established the statutory body of the Electricity Commissioners ‘to promote, regulate and supervise the supply of electricity’ under the direction of the Board of Trade . It provided for the formation of electricity districts and, where necessary, the establishment of joint electricity authorities , ‘to provide or secure

780-570: Was at Phoenix Buildings, Dudley Road, Wolverhampton. The West Midlands JEA was considered to have been successful. It took over the operation of power stations in its area and built a large-scale station at Ironbridge all of which were interconnected with high voltage transmission lines. In the year ending 31 December 1947, the last full year of its operation, the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority generated 977,571 MWh, purchased 1,045,019 MWh and sold 1025163 MWh with

810-546: Was based essentially on the Williamson and Birchenough reports and introduced central co-ordination by establishing the Electricity Commissioners , an official body responsible for securing reorganisation on a regional basis. In 1925 the commissioners approved a system for the standardisation of electricity supply. The generation and distribution of electricity was undertaken at a range of voltages and frequencies; 109 suppliers provided AC only, 297 DC only, and 176 both AC and DC. Supply voltages ranged from 100 V to >3,000 V. AC

840-575: Was held where changes to the area were put forward. Further objections resulted in another local inquiry. Formal consent was only granted in August 1928. The JEA's stations were linked through a transmission system operating at 33 kV. On 1 October 1938 the JEA took over Shrewsbury power station from the local authority. The interconnected power stations enabled the JEA to reduce the wholesale price of electricity by one-third between 1930 and 1936. The electricity sold by

870-496: Was located at Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London SW1 in 1921, and at Savoy Court, Strand, London WC2 in 1939. Four joint electricity authorities were established after the Electricity (Supply) Act 1922 had empowered then to borrow money to finance electricity schemes. The first five Electricity Commissioners were: The Secretary of the Commission was Reginald Thomas George French (1881–1965), 1920–January 1945. The Secretary of

900-557: Was supplied at 15 different frequencies ranging from 25 Hz to 100 Hz, even at the most common frequency of 50 Hz (supplied by 223 undertakings) some provided single phase, some two-phase and some three-phase. The standard proposed by the commissioners was three-phase AC of 6.6 kV (or 11 kV, 33 kV, 49.5 kV or 66 kV). Lower voltages could be DC or AC. Frequency was to be 50 Hz ± 2.5%. The Electricity Commissioners published standards and guidance for electricity installations and reports on conferences and strategic policies for

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