Electricity (Supply) Act 1919
The Electricity Act 1919 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 the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity’.
Background
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, 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 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 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 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 a regional basis.
The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919
The Electricity 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’.Provisions
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. The number of commissioners and their duties. The Board of Trade to exercise its duties through the Commissioners. Commissioners to conduct experiments on electricity supply. Appointment of advisory committee.
Reorganisation of supply of electricity
Determination of electricity districts. Establishment of joint electricity authorities. Making orders to confirm schemes. Powers and duties of joint electricity authorities.
Generating stations
A joint electricity authority may own a generating station or main transmission line and acquire land. Extensions and new stations require consent of the commissioners.
Powers of joint electricity authorities
Powers of joint electricity authorities. Transfer of undertakings to joint electricity authorities, power companies and joint electricity authorities, subsidiary powers such as abstraction of water, waste heat, by-product plant. Deprivation of employment, plans for capital expenditure.
Transitory provisions
Construction of interim works, mutual assistance between undertakings permitted.
Amendments of Electric Lighting Acts
Transfer of powers of the Ministry of Health, the Scottish Office and London County Council. Wayleaves, supply of apparatus, alteration of type of current. Amendment of 1882 Act, substitution of special for provisional orders, requirement for accounts.
Financial provisions
Revenue and expenditure of joint electricity authorities, expenses and appropriation of Electricity Commissioners, other expenses.
General
Agreements and arrangements. Holding inquiries, power to make rules. Special orders. Definitions. Application to Scotland and Ireland. Transfer of powers of Board of Trade to Minister of Transport. Short title and construction.
Schedule relating to section 35.
Joint electricity authorities
Four joint electricity authorities were established after 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.Later enactments
The Electricity (Supply) Act 1922. Enabled joint electricity authorities to borrow money to finance electricity schemes.The and the permitted the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority to purchase company electricity undertakings in the London area.
The Electricity (Supply) Act 1926, established the Central Electricity Board.
The Electricity Act 1947, nationalised the UK electricity supply industry. The Electricity Commissioners and 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.