Printed Publications Related to Electricity

In 1957, the government reorganised the electricity supply industry. The Electricity Act of that year replaced the Central Electricity Authority with two new statutory bodies: the Electricity Council and the Central Electricity Generating Board. The government's aim was to decentralise the industry.

The Electricity Council brought together representatives of the Central Electricity Generating Board, the Area Boards and its own officers to formulate the general policy of the supply industry in England and Wales. The Council reported to the Secretary of State for Energy. Although the Electricity Council was the central umbrella authority of the industry, it did not have statutory powers.

The Council was formally wound up by The Electricity Council (Dissolution) Order 2001.

In 1947, as part of the programme of post war reconstruction through public ownership, the government nationalised the electricity industry of England, Wales and Scotland. The Minister of Fuel and Power was responsible for the industry. The British Electricity Authority was formed to run the power stations and National Grid and to co-ordinate the work of the new Area Electricity Boards which took over the five hundred and sixty existing electricity undertakings.

The Area Boards were responsible for the distribution and sale of electricity to customers. In addition, they undertook contracting work and the sale of electrical appliances. There were twelve boards in England and Wales and two in southern Scotland.

On the 1st April 1955 the Authority was replaced with the Central Electricity Authority because of the introduction of the Electricity Reoragnisation (Scotland) Act 1954. The Authority looked after interests in England and Wales while the South of Scotland Electricity Board was formed to look after generation, distribution and electricity supply in Southern and Central Scotland.