Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company
| Formerly | Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Company |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public limited company |
| Industry | Energy: electricity generation and supply |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Defunct | 31 March 1948 |
| Fate | Dissolved by nationalisation |
| Successor | British Electricity Authority and Midlands Electricity Board |
| Headquarters | London |
Area served | Shropshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and South Wales |
Key people | see text |
| Services | Electricity supply |
| Owner | Edmundsons Electricity Corporation |
The Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company operated as an electricity generation and distribution enterprise within the West Midlands and South Wales regions. Established in 1903, the company ceased operations following the 1948 nationalisation of the UK's electricity sector.
History
Incorporated through the Shropshire and Worcestershire Electric Power Act 1903 (3 Edw. 7. c. ccxxxvii), the company’s authority was broadened by subsequent statutes, including the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Acts enacted in 1905, 1906, 1914, 1916, 1918, and 1923. The corporate name was amended in 1905 to reflect the inclusion of Staffordshire. Its primary function involved delivering electricity to licensed undertakings across Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire, later extending coverage to Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire through acquisitions.
Rather than constructing new power stations initially, the company opted to acquire existing smaller generating facilities from various undertakings:
- Smethwick power station, originally owned by Birmingham and Midland Tramways Limited (commissioned 1904; acquired 1908; decommissioned 1949)
- Dudley power station, operated by Dudley Corporation (commissioned 1899; acquired 1914; closed late 1930s)
- Kidderminster power station, under Kidderminster and District Electric Lighting and Traction Company Limited (commissioned 1898; acquired 1919; closed late 1920s)
- Redditch power station, managed by Redditch Urban District Council (commissioned 1900; acquired 1924; closed early 1930s)
- Hereford power station, run by Hereford Corporation (commissioned 1899; acquired 1929; closed 1939)
Stourport power station
During World War I, a joint initiative between the Shropshire Company and Birmingham Corporation aimed to develop two substantial power stations: Nechells with a capacity of 30 MW and Stourport designed for 45 MW. However, financial constraints prevented this collaboration from proceeding. Ultimately, the Shropshire Company commissioned Stourport power station in 1927, which facilitated the shutdown of smaller, less efficient plants at Dudley, Kidderminster, and Redditch.
Developments in the 1930s
By the year 1931, the Shropshire Company had become a subsidiary of Edmundsons Electricity Corporation, itself controlled by the Greater London and Counties Trust. The company grew by acquiring controlling shares in several electricity undertakings while phasing out smaller generating stations as its network enabled bulk electricity supply. Notable acquisitions included:
- Blockley power station (commissioned 1888; acquired 1931; soon after closed)
- Church Stretton power station (commissioned 1904; acquired 1929; shortly thereafter closed)
- Fladbury power station (commissioned 1900; acquired and closed in 1925)
- Ledbury power station (commissioned 1913; acquired and shut down in 1930)
- Ludlow power station (commissioned 1906; acquired in 1927; closed in 1929)
- Ross-on-Wye power station (commissioned 1902; acquired during the 1930s)
- Tewkesbury power station (commissioned 1909; acquired during the 1930s)
Additionally, electricity was supplied to towns including Bewdley, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, Halesowen, and Oldbury. In 1937, the company expanded its operational footprint by acquiring a majority interest in the South Wales Electric Power Company.
Nationalisation
On 31 March 1948, the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company ceased to exist as a result of the Electricity Act 1947, which brought the UK's electricity supply sector under state control. Ownership of its power generation facilities and transmission infrastructure was transferred to the British Electricity Authority, while responsibilities for local distribution and retail were assigned to the Midlands Electricity Board (MEB).
Key people
Among the company’s chairmen were William Leonard Madgen (1921), Emile Garcke (1923–1930), F. Massingberd Rogers (1930–1933), Sir Holberry Mensforth (1933–1936), Brigadier-General Wade H. Hayes (1936), and Sir Thomas Royden (1936–1943).
The board of directors in 1921 comprised William Leonard Madgen, serving as chairman and managing director, Clarence Shirreff Hilton, Emile Garcke, James Albert Lycett, and Brenchley Barrett Kingsford. The registered office was located at 88 Kingsway, London.
Generating plant
In 1923, the Shropshire Electric Company managed several power stations primarily powered by steam turbines and engines:
| Power station | Type of generating plant | AC capacity (kW) | DC capacity (kW) | Maximum load (kW) | Connected load (kW) | Load factor (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power stations under Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company | ||||||
| Dudley | Steam turbines and engines | 2,000 | 900 | 21,730 | 61,239 | 25.8 |
| Kidderminster | 1,500 | 1,100 | ||||
| Smethwick | 30,625 | 1,000 | ||||
| Planned constituent power stations | ||||||
| Redditch | Steam turbines and engines | 4,460 | – | 1,740 | 4,010 | 23.1 |
| Church Stretton | Gas engine | – | 100 | 50 | 333 | 23.2 |
| Ledbury | Gas and oil engines | – | 70 | 53 | 113 | 14.2 |
| Ludlow | Gas engines and hydroelectric generation | – | 110 | 73 | 300 | 12.9 |
| Ross-on-Wye | Steam engine and gas engine combination | – | 90 | 69 | 274 | 13.2 |
| Tewkesbury | Gas and oil engines | – | 85 | 61 | 180 | 25.5 |
By 1946, generation had been centralized at Stourport A power station with a capacity of 182.25 MW. That year it produced 714,526 MWh of electricity, operating at a 45.8% load factor with a thermal efficiency of 22.34%.
Following nationalisation, the British Electricity Authority developed Stourport B station between 1950 and 1954, adding an additional 120 MW of capacity.
Operations
From 1914 through to 1946, electricity sales alongside connected load steadily increased for the Shropshire company:
| Year | Electricity sold (MWh) | Connected load (kW) |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 14,474 | – |
| 1915 | 20,798 | – |
| 1916 | 44,615 | – |
| 1917 | 55,678 | – |
| 1918 | 62,260 | – |
| 1919 | 33,273 | 45,326 |
| 1920 | 54,486 | 49,957 |
| 1921 | 54,496 | 58,557 |
| 1922 | 34,511 | 61,240 |
| 1923 | 37,563 | 68,967 |
| 1931 | 193,431 | – |
| 1936 | 234,900 | – |
| 1946 | 714,526 | 178,164 |
In 1923, electricity generated at Dudley, Kidderminster and Smethwick stations was distributed approximately as follows: lighting and domestic use accounted for around 1,400 MWh; public lighting about 49 MWh; traction approximately 4,200 MWh; industrial power roughly 29,200 MWh; and bulk supply near 2,600 MWh.
Revenue figures from electricity sales in 1923 indicate that all stations were profitable:
| Power station(s) | Electricity generated (MWh) | Revenue (£) | Surplus (£) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49,211 |233,341 |10,375 |- | 3,533 |23,637 |8,442 |- | 102 |2,405 |1,547 |- | 66 |1,580 |470 |- | 83 |2,752 |1,295 |- | 80 |2,308 |281 |- | 114 |2,419 |488 |
} See alsoList of UK electric power companies before nationalisation Chronology of the electricity supply sector in the UK Catalogue of power stations located in England References |