Electricity Commissioners
The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 provided for the establishment of the Electricity Commissioners to be responsible for all aspects of electricity supply.
Following the Ministry of Transport Act 1919, supervision of the electricity industry became the responsibility of the Minister of Transport. The Commission's main functions were to promote, regulate and supervise the electricity supply. The Commission set up and supervised the joint electricity authorities in the provision of the supply in their own districts. These bodies were to acquire or to build generating stations as required, with the Commission's sanction. Schemes of reorganisation in such districts were effected by order of the Commission confirmed by the Minister and in Parliament. The scheme was not a success and following the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926, these functions were largely superseded by the new Central Electricity Board.
The Commission was also responsible for regulating and inspecting electricity undertakings and administration of the Electric Lighting Acts 1882 to 1909. The Commission's legal staff undertook such work until 1934 (when passed to the Treasury Solicitor). The Commission also undertook preliminary work in fields which remained the Minister's direct responsibility.
The Commission's statutory functions fell into three main Branches:
- Administrative: granting and modifying the power to supply electricity; granting consent and approval for making of arrangements; carrying out works for development and operation of electricity undertakings.
- Finance: accounting and statistics, collection of levies, and other financial matters.
- Engineering: examination and certification of electricity meters under the Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936; engineering questions and inspections arising from the Commission's work.
In March 1937, the Minister of Transport announced that the Government had decided to adopt, in principle, the main recommendations of the McGowan Committee. A White Paper was issued proposing that the Electricity Commissioners should review each district and prepare schemes for their consolidation into groups, rather than delegate this duty to District Commissioners.
WWII: the Commission was designated an 'appropriate authority' in relation to electricity supply undertakings for the purpose of civil defence, fire prevention, war damage, etc. It was also involved with settlement of manpower disputes.
Responsibility for the Commission passed to the Board of Trade (1941) and then the Ministry of Fuel and Power (1942). The Commission exercised certain powers on behalf of the Minister, and in other matters (e.g. regulation of electricity prices) acted in an advisory capacity.
1948 following nationalisation, the Commission was wound up, its powers being transferred to the Ministry of Fuel and Power and the British Electricity Authority.
See Also
Sources of Information
- National Archives [1]