North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board
| File:Sleeping torrent - geograph.org.uk - 1218570.jpg The Dundreggan Dam was built in 1957 to supply water to Glenmoriston hydro-electric power station. | |
| Formerly | New establishment |
|---|---|
| Company type | Government body |
| Industry | Electricity generation and supply |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founder | Act of Parliament: Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943 |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Fate | Privatisation |
| Successor | North of Scotland Electricity plc |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland |
Area served | North of Scotland |
Key people | Thomas Johnston (Chairman) |
| Products | Electricity |
Production output | 7073 GWh (1989) |
| Services | Generation and supply of electricity |
| £15.741 million (1988) | |
| Total assets | Electricity generating stations and transmission system |
| Owner | UK Government (Secretary of State for Scotland) |
Number of employees | 3917 (1989) |
| Parent | UK Government |
| Divisions | Distribution areas (see text) |
The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board operated from 1943 until 1990, tasked with the planning, construction, and administration of hydroelectric schemes throughout the Scottish Highlands. This initiative stands as a significant accomplishment attributed to Scottish statesman Thomas Johnston, who served as chairman between 1945 and 1959.
Background
During the 1930s, multiple plans aimed at developing hydroelectric power in northern Scotland encountered resistance from landowners, sporting groups, and the coal sector, which feared competition. Official authorities also obstructed progress; for instance, a proposed power station at Kinlochleven was halted after Inverness County Council refused permission for watercourse crossings. In 1938, the Caledonian Water Power bill—which would have enabled private enterprises to pursue hydroelectric projects in the Highlands—was defeated. The Inverness Courier endorsed this outcome, advocating for government-led initiatives to benefit the region.
Amid World War II, Tom Johnston—then serving as Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence in Scotland—was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in 1941. He established a Council of State comprising former secretaries to advise on Scottish affairs and declined remuneration during wartime. Consistent with his stance against private control over national resources, Johnston opposed earlier hydroelectric legislation and publicized government intentions to harness Highland water power following the failure of a Glen Affric project in 1941.
In October 1941, the Committee on Hydro-Electric Development in Scotland—commonly referred to as the Cooper Committee—was convened under Lord Cooper’s leadership. Its members included engineer William Douglas Weir, Neil Beaton representing the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, civil engineer James Williamson, and John A. Cameron from the Scottish Land Court.
Initially doubtful due to previous assessments indicating few viable projects, Lord Cooper revised his view after examining the Hilleary Report. Despite wartime limitations, the committee undertook comprehensive investigations early in 1942, engaging with entities such as the Central Electricity Board and local councils. Their findings, published in December 1942, received commendation from Johnston for their clarity and constructive nature. The report noted that government policy had discouraged private development of Highland water resources for over twenty years without devising an overarching strategy, contributing to economic decline in the area. It proposed creating a public authority—the North of Scotland Hydro-electric Board—to oversee development schemes and expand electricity distribution into underserved rural communities.
Johnston actively worked to build bipartisan backing for this initiative, anticipating primary opposition from the Coal Owners Association. By the time the legislation was introduced in Parliament, it had secured support from eight Cabinet ministers. Johnston characterized the bill as a 'partial remedy' addressing Highland economic hardship, emphasizing that profits from surplus electricity sold to the national grid would subsidize rural electrification costs and that the board would foster social and economic growth within the region.
Although parliamentary review introduced numerous procedural safeguards requiring approvals at various stages—leading to calls for streamlining—the bill advanced with amendments accommodating these concerns.
The House of Lords expressed strong endorsement when Lord Alness presented the bill. Peers praised Johnston’s leadership and underscored urgency given regional economic difficulties. Lord Lovat urged that returning Highland war veterans be employed on projects rather than bringing in outside labor.
The Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943 (6 & 7 Geo. 6. c. 32) became law on 5 August 1943, formally establishing the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board with authority to generate and distribute electricity throughout northern Scotland.
Constitution
In September 1943, the appointment of five board members was announced: four designated jointly by the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Fuel and Power, and one selected by the Central Electricity Board. The chairman role was held by David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie, who had previously collaborated with Johnson in civil defence efforts and initially expressed reservations about the limited scope of the 1943 legislation. The deputy chairman and chief executive was engineer Edward MacColl, renowned for his expertise in hydro-electric developments and electrical systems, occupying the sole full-time position. Other appointees included Neil Beaton, Hugh Mackenzie (Provost of Inverness), and Walter Whigham, a Central Electricity Board nominee and director at the Bank of England; Whigham was soon succeeded by engineer Sir Duncan Watson due to health issues.
After establishing the board, Major Gwilym Lloyd George, Minister for Fuel and Power, chaired a committee tasked with streamlining Britain's electricity supply. Johnson ensured that the Hydro-Electric Board remained exempt from these reforms to safeguard the principles enshrined in the 1943 act. The board commenced its operations in January 1944, setting up offices on Rothesay Terrace in Edinburgh. MacColl gathered a youthful and committed engineering team and created a Panel of Technical Advisers sourced from leading consultancies to execute the act’s goals—this advisory panel remained vital for fifteen years.
Although based outside its operational region in Edinburgh, the board’s leadership consisted of a chairman and between four to eight members as mandated by the 1943 act. By 1958, prominent board members included Thomas Johnston (chairman), Sir Hugh Mackenzie (deputy chairman), Sir John Erskine, Sir George McGlashan, A. I. Mackenzie, A. Macrae, I. A. Duncan Millar, William Hughes, and John Jardine.
With the nationalisation of the UK electricity supply sector in 1948, the board took ownership of assets from the Grampian Electricity Supply Company along with other northern Scottish producers such as Campbeltown and Mid-Argyll, Crieff, Dunoon and District, Loch Leven, North of Scotland, Peterhead, Stornoway, Thurso and District, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth, Inverness, Buckie, Lossiemouth, Branderburgh, and Oban corporations.
Activity
One of the initial priorities was developing a comprehensive scheme identifying water resources suitable for hydro-electric development. MacColl swiftly pinpointed 102 locations ranging from smaller installations like Loch nan Gillean (Plockton) with an output of 4 million units (kWh/year) to major projects such as Glen Affric capable of producing 440 million units. The total estimated capacity reached 6,274 million units—surpassing the Cooper Committee’s earlier estimate of 4,000 million units. MacColl made certain that no feasible project was overlooked. Guthrie Brown, a technical adviser, commended MacColl’s profound understanding of water power potential.
While Johnston advocated politically to maintain the board’s existence, MacColl chose Loch Sloy as the inaugural construction project—a traditional hydro-electric station designed with a capacity of 130 MW after a larger 360 MW pumped storage plan was previously rejected. Smaller ventures at Loch Morar and Kyle of Lochalsh were also included to demonstrate dedication to remote communities despite their limited financial returns. Although several committees approved the scheme, it encountered resistance from county councils and private individuals. A six-day inquiry led by John Cameron KC ruled in favor of proceeding on grounds of public interest. The Secretary of State granted approval and Parliament authorized the project on 28 March 1945.
The subsequent significant undertaking was the Tummel–Garry scheme which incorporated a smaller generating station at Kerry Falls near Gairloch. This involved constructing three dams: one near Trinafour forming Loch Errochty which supplied a power station close to Loch Tummel; another across the River Tummel upstream from Falls of Tummel feeding Clunie power station; and a third above Pitlochry providing compensation water while generating electricity. Despite opposition from local councils and residents, MacColl insisted on advancing to uphold the original act’s intent. Approval came from both the Central Electricity Board and Electricity Commissioners in February 1945; however objections prompted Johnston to call for a tribunal chaired by John Cameron alongside two others.
The tribunal lasted ten days with extensive deliberations. Due to illness MacColl could not present evidence; Lord Airlie vigorously defended the project despite criticism. Technical experts supported its merits while opponents raised concerns about loss of scenic value and revealed that some riparian landowners had gifted waterfalls to the National Trust for Scotland to complicate development efforts. The tribunal acknowledged serious concerns but ultimately prioritized public benefit recommending full approval.
Parliament subsequently faced motions seeking to revoke this confirmation order led by William Snadden on environmental grounds. Advocates countered that affordable Highland-generated electricity would serve both Scottish Lowlands and England while engineering works might attract tourism despite altering natural landscapes. The motion to annul was defeated by 248 votes to 63. Although Lord Kinnaird declined similar action in the House of Lords he initiated debate on the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943. Lord Airlie defended board activities amid skepticism about hydro-electric power’s prospects compared with atomic energy alternatives. Lord Westwood endorsed the board leading to rejection of Kinnaird’s motion thus enabling progress on projects including Fannich on the River Conon after objections were withdrawn.
Power generation
The board’s electricity production capacity was mainly derived from interconnected hydro-electric schemes featuring multiple turbines distributed throughout various catchment regions, complemented by steam and diesel power plants. At the outset, its assets included only two oil-fueled stations located at Kirkwall (Orkney) and Rothesay (Isle of Bute).
Hydro-electric power stations
Before nationalisation, a number of hydro-electric plants were already in operation, some of which were subsequently transferred to the South of Scotland Board.
| Station | Owner | Capacity kW |
Commissioned | Output (1946) MWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxwell Town | Dumfries Corporation | 87 | 220.6 | |
| Loch Luichart | Grampian Electricity Supply Co | 2035 | 1926 | 13,219 |
| Rannoch | Grampian Electricity Supply Co | 44,520 | 1930 | 157,273 |
| Tummel | Grampian Electricity Supply Co | 23,950 | 1933 | 113,081 |
| Glebe | Greenoch Corporation | 3382 | 635.2 | |
| Bught | Inverness Corporation | 98 | 680.7 | |
| Inshes | Inverness Corporation | 26 | 159.6 | |
| Lochaber | Lochaber Power Co | 55,950 | 1929 | 455,385 |
| Tobermory | Tobermory Corporation | 37 | 1927 | 60.3 |
Among the principal schemes developed by the board were:
- Affric-Beauly hydro-electric power scheme
- Awe Hydro-Electric Scheme (commonly grouped with Sloy/Awe)
- Breadalbane Hydro-Electric Scheme
- River Conon
- Foyers hydro-electric power scheme
- Great Glen or River Garry, Inverness-shire–River Moriston
- River Shin
- Shira Hydro-Electric Scheme (often associated with Sloy/Awe)
- Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme (frequently grouped as Sloy/Awe)
- Tummel hydro-electric power scheme
By 1958, a considerable number of hydro-electric facilities were active:
... [table continues with key station data] ...| Station | Scheme No. |
Capacity MW |
Water head feet |
Commissioned | Output (1958) GWh |
Output (1968) GWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sloy | 1 | 130 | 910 | 1957 | 104.88 | 120 |
In 1958, several plants were still under construction:
... [table continues with key station data] ...| Station | Capacity MW |
Output (1968) GWh | |
|---|---|---|---|
The 1960s saw the commissioning of additional hydro-electric stations, further enhancing capacity:
... [table continues with key station data] ...| Power station | Scheme No. |
Commissioned | Head of water m |
Catchment km3 |
Capacity MW |
Annual output GWh |
|---|
By 1968, the North of Scotland Board managed conventional hydro-electric facilities boasting a total installed capacity of 1,047.06 MW and an average yearly generation of 2,911.4 GWh.
Cruachan pumped storage scheme
Commissioned in 1965, the Cruachan facility is a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant delivering 440 MW of power with an energy storage capacity of 7.1 GWh.
Steam-powered facilities
In 1958, the operation included two steam-driven power plants:
| Facility | Steam generation capacity, lb/hr | Generating units | Peak load, MW | Electricity produced, GWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen (Ferryhill) | 604,000 | 2 × 5 MW, 2 × 12.5 MW, 1 × 15 MW, 1 × 6.25 MW, 1 × 1 MW | 53.1 | 65.906 |
| Dundee (Carolina Port) | 812,000 | 1 × 15.625 MW, 2 × 30 MW | 76.8 | 228.655 |
Diesel-powered stations
During 1958, nine power stations fueled by diesel engines were active:
| Facility | Engine configuration | Installed capacity MW | Peak demand MW | Electricity generated in 1958 GWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowmore | 3 × 0.6 MW, 2 × 0.265 MW | 2.33 | 1.38 | 4.978 |
| Brodick | 1 × 0.88 MW, 1 × 0.685 MW, 1 × 0.6 MW, 1 × 0.425 MW, (1 × 0.135 MW water-driven) | 3.087 | 2.18 | 5.725 |
| Campbeltown | 1 × 1 MW, 2 × 0.6 MW, 2 × 0.4 MW, 2 × 0.37 MW | 3.74 | 2.71 | 3.332 |
| Daliburgh | 1 × 0.46 MW, 2 × 0.45 MW, 1 × 0.2 MW | 1.56 | 0.73 | 2.798 |
| Kirkwall | 4 × 1 MW, 1 × 0.52 MW, 2 × 2 MW | 8.52 | 4.48 | 14.807 |
| Lerwick | 2 × 2 MW, 3 × 1 MW, 1 × 0.6 MW | 7.6 | 3.985 | 12.894 |
| Lochalsh | 1 × 0.375 MW, 1 × 0.135 MW, 2 × 0.2 MW | 0.91 | 0.59 | 0.059 |
| Stornoway | 2 × 2.04 MW, 1 × 2 MW, 3 × 1 MW | 9.08 | 5.55 | 18.963 |
| Tobermory | 1 × 0.45 MW, 1 × 0.425 MW, 1 × 0.274 MW, 3 × 0.075 MW | 1.375 | 0.47 | 1.486 |
Transmission
The Highland Grid primarily transmitted electricity at a voltage of 132 kV, with the network extending over 17,300 circuit miles of mains by the late-1950s.[1] By April of 1989, this infrastructure had grown to encompass roughly 1694 km of 275 kV lines and 3403 km of 132 kV lines.
Distribution regions
In the mid-1950s, supply was organized across thirteen distribution regions:
Cowal Dalriada Dundee 45 .625 80 .97 277 .295 66 ,086 Lewis 7 .68 4 .73 13 .079 7 ,285 Lochaber (3 .5 + hydro-electric (0 .75)) 3 .66 12 .735 3 ,628 Lorne and the Isles (1 .56 + hydro-electric (2)) 6 .36 21 .893 5 ,539 North Caledonia (0 .12 hydro-electric) 70 .889 210 .655 63 ,289 Orkney 5 .04 3 .93 11 .408 5 ,123 Perth (city) Electricity imported 13 .647 3 ,181 13 ,725 Shetland 6 .2 3 .465 9 .756 4 ,651 Skye and Lochalsh (0 .91 + hydro-electric (2 .85)) 2 .5 7 .81 4 ,121 South Caledonia (75 +30 +6 .4 +15 +48 +34 hydro-electric) 70 .193 226 .956 57 ,050| Distribution region | Supply capacity (MW) | Peak load (MW) | Electricity sold (GWh) | Number of consumers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 57.25 | 72.7 | 238.752 | 74,479 |
| (2.952 + hydro-electric (6)) | 10.56 | 36.65 | 15,308 | |
| (3 .14 + hydro-electric (2 .4)) | 6 .658 | 23 .953 | 7 ,451 |
Operational statistics from 1949 to 1989
A summary of key performance data for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board is presented below.
1977 2176 1614 510 3796 77 .2 5 .888 1978 2109 1576 520 3910 63 .5 1 .794 1979 2116 1691 528 4059 47 .6 2 .065 1980 2116 1695 536 4146 42 .7 2 .473 1981 2125 1637 543 4115 41 .5 11 .214 1982 2551 1740 549 4005 32 .5 13 .217 1983 3173 1443 556 3920 41 .9 18 .358 1984 3179 1495 563 3840 38 .9 12 .191 1985 3259 1552 571 3830 38 .3 –6 .075 1986 3259 1502 578 3767 44 .5 5 .930 1987 3262 1660 585 3795 54 .7 17 .298 1988 3265 1486 590 3861 54 .0 15 .741 1989 3265 1419 597 3917 38 .3 0 .584| Year | Total installed generation capacity (MW) | Peak demand (MW) | Customer base (thousands) | Staff numbers | Capital investment (£ million) | Net profit (£ million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 251 | 216 | 222 | 2453 | 13.4 | 0.097 |
| 1959 | 1047 | 861 | 384 | 3038 | 13.0 | –0.029 |
| 1969 | 1815 | 992 | 454 | 3860 | 7.8 | –1.399 |
| 1971 | 1830 | 1045 | 473 | 3832 | 11.3 | 0.093 |
| 1972 | 1821 | 1289 | 482 | 3641 | 14.4 | –3.207 |
| 1973 | 1832 | 1339 | 488 | 3588 | 16.1 | –2.474 |
| 1974 | 2150 | 1456 | 477 | 3673 | 16.9 | –2.725 |
| 1975 | 2150 | 1498 | 486 | 3745 | 32.2 | –2.274 |
| 1976 | 2160 | 1486 | 498 | 3808 | 70 .1 | 0 .103 |
The board's electricity output in gigawatt-hours varied throughout these years due to shifts in demand and operational conditions, with significant highs recorded in the early to mid-1980s—particularly in the years corresponding to increased production capacity and market expansion.<graph>{ "version": 2, "width": 800, "height": 300, "data": [ { "name": "table", "values": [ {"x":1949,"y":667}, {"x":1959,"y":2175}, {"x":1969,"y":3487}, {"x":1971,"y":5223}, {"x":1972,"y":3900}, {"x":1973,"y":4416}, {"x":1974,"y":5093}, {"x":1975,"y":4555}, {"x":1976,"y":3234}, {"x":1977,"y":2665}, {"x":1978,"y":3226}, {"x":1979,"y":3233}, {"x":1980,"y":3437}, {"x":1981,"y":3795}, {"x":1982,"y":3561}, {"x":1983,"y":6801}, {"x":1984,"y":7624}, {"x":1985,"y":9602}, {"x":1986,"y":3505}, {"x":1987,"y":5109}, {"x":1988,"y":5184}, {"x":1989,"y":7073} ] } ], "scales":[{"name":"x","type":"ordinal","range":"width","zero":false,"domain":{"data":"table","field":"x"}},{"name":"y","type":"linear","range":"height","nice":true,"domain":{"data":"table","field":"y"}}], "axes":[{"type":"x","scale":"x"},{"type":"y","scale":"y"}], "marks":[{"type":"rect","from":{"data":"table"},"properties":{"enter":{"x":{"scale":"x","field":"x"},"y":{"scale":"y","field":"y"},"y2":{"scale":"y","value":0},"fill":{"value":"steelblue"},"width":{"scale":"x","band":"true","offset":-1}}}}] }</graph>
Dissolution
In 1989, North of Scotland Electricity plc was created to take over the assets of the board in preparation for privatisation, later adopting the name Scottish Hydro-Electric plc. The board ceased operations in March 1990, with privatisation completed by June 1991, and the headquarters moved from Edinburgh to Perth.
Following a merger with Southern Electric plc in December 1998, the business was rebranded as Scottish and Southern Energy plc. The "Scottish Hydro-Electric" name continues to be used for its operations within Scotland.
See also
- Energy policy of the United Kingdom
- Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
- South of Scotland Electricity Board
Bibliography
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:1
- Pages with broken file links
- Defunct companies of Scotland
- Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom
- Energy in Scotland
- Electric power in Scotland
- Renewable energy in Scotland
- 1943 establishments in Scotland
- 1990 disestablishments in Scotland
- Hydroelectric power companies of the United Kingdom
- British companies disestablished in 1990
- 1942 establishments in England
- British companies established in 1943
- Energy companies established in 1943
- Electric power companies of Scotland
- Pages with reference errors