London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity supply |
| Founded | February 1935 |
| Defunct | 31 March 1948 |
| Fate | Nationalised under Electricity Act 1947 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | Central and west London |
Key people | Edward Goulding, 1st Baron Wargrave (Chairman, 1935–1936); Sir Frances Fladgate (Chairman, 1936–1937); Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton (Chairman, 1937–1947); Clarence Parker (Chairman, 1947–1948) |
| Products | Electricity distribution and retail supply |
London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited operated as an electricity provider in central and west London between 1935 and 1948. The company was created to merge and coordinate the electricity distribution activities of six companies located in west London.
History
The London Power Company was formed in 1925 by ten London electricity providers to centralize electricity generation at Battersea Power Station. Despite this, the original companies continued managing distribution and retail supply.
In 1934, six electricity firms serving west and central London decided to consolidate their distribution assets to enhance supply uniformity and operational efficiency. These companies included:
- Brompton and Kensington Electricity Supply Company
- Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company
- Chelsea Electricity Supply Company
- Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Lighting Company
- St. James and Pall Mall Electric Light Company
- Westminster Electricity Supply Corporation
The entity was incorporated as a public company in February 1935 under the London Electricity (No. 2) Act 1925. Its objectives were to:
- Form a unified organisation replacing the six separate companies;
- Implement standardized tariffs at minimal expense;
- Promote swift adoption of the Central Electricity Board’s standardized system.
To achieve integration, the Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company acquired the other five companies and rebranded as Central London Electricity Limited. From 1 January 1937, all shares of Central London Electricity Limited were owned by London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited. Directors of the merged companies received compensation equivalent to three years’ remuneration for their positions.
The company harmonized electricity supply standards (240 V, 50 Hz AC) throughout its service area, which led to substantial cost reductions. However, it did not succeed in attracting additional mergers.
During the Second World War, electricity sales declined by 30%, customer numbers fell by 39%, and electrical demand dropped by 37.5%. Tariffs were increased in both 1940 and 1943. War-related damage was estimated at £600,000, impacting substations, transformer chambers, and cabling infrastructure. Recovery efforts began in 1944 with increasing sales volume and consumer counts.
By 1948, the company maintained its headquarters at 60 St. Martins Lane, with retail showrooms located on Regent Street, Belgrave Road, Earl's Court Road, Sloane Street, and Victoria Street.
The company ceased operations on 31 March 1948 following the Electricity Act 1947, which nationalized the UK's electricity supply industry. Its high-voltage transmission assets were transferred to the British Electricity Authority, while distribution and retail responsibilities were assigned to the London Electricity Board (LEB).
Key people
Chairmanship of London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited included:
- Edward Goulding, 1st Baron Wargrave, 1935–1936
- Sir Frances Fladgate, 1936–1937
- Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton, 1937–1947
- Clarence Parker, 1947–1948
Electricity supply statistics
In 1936, the year preceding consolidation, the six individual companies reported the following data:
| Company | Electricity sold (MWh) | Maximum load (MW) | Connection capacity (MW) | Number of consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brompton and Kensington | 21,433 | 9.30 | 51.056 | 14,722 |
| Charing Cross | 116,454 | 48.988 | 119.731 | 11,614 |
| Chelsea | 37,729 | 10.350 | 55.131 | 11,462 |
| Kensington and Knightsbridge | 40,100 | 14.320 | 64.258 | 7,903 |
| St James and Pall Mall | 56,116 | 22.111 | 55.665 | 6,045 |
| Westminster | 124,249 | 47.766 | 200.450 | 28,607 |
Data reflecting operations for London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited and Central London Electricity Limited demonstrated consistent growth over time:
| Year | Electricity sold (MWh) | Connection capacity (MW) | Consumer count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 314,000 | 450 | – |
| 1935 | 350,000 | 489 | – |
| 1936 | 386,000 | – | – |
| 1937 | 419,000 | 592 | – |
| 1938 | 432,000 | – | 86,000 |
| 1939–42 | No accounts published during wartime period | ||
| 1943 | 303,000 | – | 53,000 |
| 1944 | 348,000 | – | 76,684 |
| 1945 | 382,250 | – | 83,800 |
| 1946 | 450,000 | – | 90,600 |
| 1947 | 433,000 | – | |
Finances
By the year 1935, the total share capital of the merged entities amounted to £6.89 million. The consolidation was carried out by London Associated Electricity Undertakings Limited at a cost of £7,300.
Operational patterns in electricity pricing and income were as follows:
| Year | Tariff (d./kWh) | Revenue (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1.804 | 2,460,000 |
| 1935 | 1.682 | 2,500,000 |
| 1936 | 1.624 | 2,658,600 |
| 1937 | 0.5 | 2,782,600 |
| 1938 | 1.451 | – |
| 1944 | – | |
| 1945 | – | |
| 1946 | – | |
| 1947 | – | –221,000 |