BRITAIN’S ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22889, 8 March 1949, Page 4

BRITAIN’S ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY

r J'AA 7 0 important events have served to focus attention on the development of Britain’s electric power industry. To meet capital needs the British Electricity Authority has raised the substantial sum of £100,000,000 by issue to the public of three per cent Government stock, and the first of 25 big new generating stations has been opened. Both these events are essential parts of a very large expansion programme' which was launched some years ago and which will not be nearing completion until 1953. This programme reflects Britain’s urgent need to expand electricity output to far above even the present record levels. The need for more, and still more, expenditure on generating capacity is the outcome of the war holding up maintenance work and the replacement of old and the building of new plant ; also to the rapidly rising demand for power as indicated by the everincreasing industrial and domestic use. During last year the total output was almost double what it was 10 years ago. Yet the demand is far from being filled. Britain’s electricity users are having, and will have for some time, to limit their use of power to essential needs.

Two main causes for this demand are the much higher calls for industry, where increased production and consequently greater use of electricity have been noticeable, and the increased ability of people to be able to afford electricity for domestic uses other than lighting. The higher wage levels have brought the lower income groups of British workers into this position. The present expansion programme includes not only the construction of 25 new power stations, but also extensions to some 50 to 60 existing stations. These big developments will naturally entail considerable further additions to the'supply and distribution systems. As it will take several years to build all the new stations, the benefit of these major operations will not be felt for some time, but when the new projects do come into production then progress will be rapidly cumulative. In the meantime consumption of electricity is being limited to the most useful purposes by voluntary appeals for conservation in its use, particularly during peakdemand periods.