North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
1943 Company formed under Act of Parliament. It was proposed the board would be responsible for the developing and generating electricity in the northern area of Scotland, its transmission to existing users and development of supplies to areas outside those of existing undertakings[1]. It would take over the powers of the Central Electricity Board in its area but there were mechanisms for collaboration with the CEB as well as representation of the CEB on the NSHEB[2].
1946 Proposed Hydro-Electric Scheme, South West of Beauly - see illustrations
1948 When the UK electricity supply industry was nationalised, the Board took over the assets of the Grampian Electricity Supply Co and other bodies producing electricity in the northern part of Scotland. A programme of development of hydro-electric resources began, to serve people in the North of Scotland.
The board was one of 3 regional electricity boards established in Scotland which generated, transmitted and distributed electricity to customers (also see South East Scotland Electricity Board and South West Scotland Electricity Board)
The 1954 Act transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland all matters in relation to electricity supplies in Scotland; the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board continued to handle the provision of electricity in its area.
By 1965, 54 main power stations and 78 dams had been built, providing a total generating capacity of over 1,000 MW. Over 300 kilometres of rock tunnel had been excavated and a similar length of aqueducts and pipelines constructed. Over 37000 kilometres of electricity network was built to distribute the electricity throughout the north of Scotland, with a further 110 kilometres of submarine cable taking power to the major Scottish islands.
Later became Scottish Hydro-Electric and then part of the Scottish and Southern Energy Group, or SSE plc
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- Power from the Glens, published by Scottisj Hydro-Electric, 2005