Urban Electric Supply Company
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy, Electricity supply |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Defunct | 31 March 1948 |
| Fate | Abolished by nationalisation |
| Successor | British Electricity Authority, area electricity boards |
| Headquarters | London |
Area served | Great Britain |
Key people | see text |
| Services | Electricity generation and supply |
| see table | |
| Owner | Edmundsons Electricity Corporation |
| Subsidiaries | Cornwall Electric Power Company Limited, East Anglian Electric Supply Company Limited |
The Urban Electric Supply Company Limited (abbreviated as UESCo) was a UK-based electricity holding firm that operated from its establishment in 1898 until the nationalisation of the electricity sector in 1948. It managed various electricity enterprises throughout Great Britain, either directly or through its subsidiaries.
History
Established in 1898 with the objective of obtaining parliamentary authority for electric lighting and tramway services across England, Wales, and Scotland, by 1901 UESCo had secured permissions to construct electricity infrastructure in multiple towns. Estimated construction expenses included £35,000 for Camborne and Redruth, £27,000 for Glossop, and £26,000 for Twickenham. Additionally, two electric tramway projects were initiated: Camborne and Redruth at £40,000 and Glossop at £50,000. The construction activities were overseen by Edmundsons Electricity Corporation.
To finance its ventures, UESCo issued shares on several occasions: raising £500,000 in June 1901; £650,000 in July 1905; £640,000 in June 1923; and £250,000 in 1930.
By the year 1905, the Bishop Auckland undertaking was no longer under UESCo’s control; however, new operations in Caterham and Newbury were incorporated into its portfolio.
In 1923, UESCo administered a collection of mainly small-scale electricity undertakings with the following installed generating capacities and financial surpluses:
| Undertaking | Generating capacity (kW) | Electricity sold (MWh) | Surplus (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | 470 | 423 | 5,085 |
| Camborne | – | 105 | 1,518 |
| Caterham | 180 | 216 | 5,018 |
| Dartmouth and Kingswear | 330 | 278 | 4,483 |
| Glossop | 425 | 702 | 6,964 |
| Godalming | 600 | 352 | 7,019 |
| Grantham | 670 | 532 | 8,125 |
| Illogan | – | 32 | |
| Newbury | 672 | 546 | 6,556 |
| Newton Abbot | 520 | 526 | 7,192 |
| Redruth | – | 164 | 1,029 |
| Stamford | 580 | 366 | 4,909 |
In 1930, funds secured through share issues enabled UESCo to acquire several electricity companies:
- Bodmin Electric Light and Supply Company Limited
- East Cornwall Electricity Supply Company Limited
- Looe Electricity Company Limited
- North Cornwall Ice and Cold Storage Company Limited (Padstow)
- Wadebridge and District Electric Supply Company Limited
- Liskeard Gas and Electricity Company Limited
- Launceston and District Electric Supply Company Limited
Cornwall Electric Power Company
The Cornwall Electric Power Company Limited operated power plants located at Hayle—with capacities of 8.80 MW in 1923 and expanding to 32.5 MW by 1939—and Carn Brea (900 kW in 1923).
In 1931, the company experienced a notable decline due to a sharp drop in global tin prices. As its revenue was heavily dependent on tin mining operations, this downturn caused a reduction of approximately 4 GWh in electricity supplied alongside a fall in income from £9,250 to £7,500.
East Anglian Electric Supply Company
In 1934, the Urban Electric Supply Company expanded its network by acquiring the East Anglian Electric Supply Company Limited, adding 134 miles of high voltage and 80 miles of low voltage distribution lines to its system.
Post-war operations
By 1946, the sole generating facility owned by the Urban Electric Supply Company was the Hawick station, which generated 1,888 MWh. The Cornwall Electric Power Company Limited operated the Hayle power station, producing 142,868 MWh, while the East Anglian Electric Supply Company managed the Cromer station with an output of 62.9 MWh and the Southwold station generating 392 kWh.
Nationalisation
Following the nationalisation mandated by the Electricity Act 1947, the Urban Electric Supply Company ceased to exist on 31 March 1948. Ownership of its power stations and transmission infrastructure was transferred to the British Electricity Authority, while local distribution and supply responsibilities were assigned to regional electricity boards.
Financial
The net profits recorded by the company from 1902 through 1934 are summarized below:
| Year | Net profit £ | Year | Net profit £ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1,871 | 1918 | 59,920 | |
| 1903 | 12,181 | 1919 | 55,604 | |
| 1904 | 19,234 | 1920 | 86,685 | |
| 1905 | 26,000 | 1921 | 95,562 | |
| 1911 | 47,649 | 1922 | 122,006 | |
| 1912 | 54,264 | 1930 | 154,273 | |
| 1913 | 61,684 | 1931 | 151,819 | |
| 1914 | 65,666 | 1932 | 105,693 | |
| 1915 | 65,311 | 1933 | 106,005 | |
| 1916 | 61,772 | 1934 | 104,333 | |
| 1917 | 64,521 |
Key people
The board members in 1901 were:
- Francis Edward Gripper (Chairman)
- Edmund Charrington
- Herbert Brent Grotrian
- William Page
- John Cuthbert Wigham
Subsequent chairmen included:
- Edmund Charrington (from 1905)
- Philip Debell Tuckett (1921–1933)
- Sir Holberry Mensforth (appointed in 1935)
- Wade Hampton Hayes (from 1940)