Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited

The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited (also known as the Midland Electric Corporation) was registered in 1897 to carry out the business of an electricity supply company. It supplied electricity to an area of 75 square miles in the West Midlands, and operated a power station at Ocker Hill, Tipton. The corporation was abolished in 1948 when the UK electricity supply industry was nationalised.

Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited
Company typePublic
IndustryElectricity supply
Founded23 June 1897
Defunct1 April 1948
FateNationalisation
SuccessorBritish Electricity Authority
Headquarters
Birmingham
Area served
West Midlands UK
Key people
See text
ProductsElectricity supply
RevenueSee tables

Supply districts

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The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited was registered on 23 June 1897.[1] It obtained powers under local Electric Lighting Orders to supply electricity to districts in the West Midlands.[1] These included (from 1898) Wednesbury, Bilston, Coseley, Darlaston, Heath Town, Rowley Regis, Sedgley, Short Heath, Tipton, Wednesfield, Willenhall, and Bentley. In 1899 Amblecote, Brierley Hill, and Quary Bank were included. In 1900 Bushbury and Penn were added. In 1901 Tettenhall and Kingswinford were included. In 1909 Stourbridge was added. The area of supply was about 75 square miles with a population of 280,000.[1]

Electricity Supply

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The Midland Electric Corporation had an electricity generating station at Ocker Hill at Tipton.[1][2]

See main article: Ocker Hill Power Station

The original installation had a capacity of 3.1 MW.[1] By 1923 the plant had a capacity of 25.8 MW[2] and was ultimately 78 MW.[3]

The electricity sold, financial costs and revenues at various times are summarised in the following tables.

Revenue, consumers and electricity sold 1908-12[1]
Year Gross trading revenue £ Net trading revenue £ Consumers Electricity sold Gwh
1908 23,292 11,711 1292 6.67
1909 30,862 14,301 1449 7.11
1910 36,941 18,062 1784 8.77
1911 43,159 21,911 2172 10.26
1912 53,450 30,943 2530 12.90
Revenue, profit and electricity sold 1915-19 [4]
Year Gross trading revenue £ Net trading revenue £ Net profit £ Electricity sold GWh
1915 91,272 55,940 48,199 22.248
1916 112,856 63,646 54,372
1917 145,986 78,109 68,298
1918 193,730 75,449 60,522
1919 257,749 106,320 86,361 33.65
Revenue, connections and electricity sold 1921-37[2][5]
Year Revenue £ Costs £ Surplus £ Connections Electricity sold GWh
1921 280,164 207,961 72,203 45,668 29.89
1922 275,964 136,894 139,070 49,856 33.48
1937 608,077 417,879 190,198 168,955 160.50

Key people

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In 1915 the directors were Edmund Knowles Muspratt (chairman), J. F. Albright, Sir John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, James Taylor, and G. H. Nisbett. The Company Secretary was G. Saies.[1]

In 1920 the directors were James Taylor (chairman), Edmund Knowles Muspratt, Sir John Sutherland Harmood-Banner, G. H. Nisbett, and D. Sinclair. The Company Secretary was Gordon Saies. The chief engineer was G. R. J. Parkinson.[4]

The corporation's registered office was at 21 Waterloo Street, Birmingham.[4]

Organisation

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The Midland Electric Corporation (1900) Limited was registered on 15 May 1900 to promote the Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited and to take over the latter company if necessary.[1] It was to adopt an agreement between this company and the British Insulated Wire Company Limited dated 13 June 1900.[1]

In 1918 the Corporation purchased the Wednesbury power station for £75,000 but closed it down shortly after.[3]

In 1920 the Corporation issued a prospectus to raise £600,000 to expand power supplies.[4]

In 1926 the Midland Electric Corporation was taken over by the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority which then sold electricity in bulk to the corporation.[3]

The corporation was abolished in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 which nationalised the electricity supply industry. The power station and main distribution system was vested in the British Electricity Authority.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Garcke, Emile (1916). Manual of Electrical undertakings, 1914-15 Vol 18. London: Electrical Press Limited. pp. 701–03.
  2. ^ a b c Electricity Commission (1925). Electricity Supply 1920-22. London: HMSO. pp. E180-83, F454-59.
  3. ^ a b c D. G. Tucker, Electricity generating stations for public supply in the West Midlands 1888-1977 p.18
  4. ^ a b c d "Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribution Limited". The Times. 16 July 1920. p. 18.
  5. ^ Electricity Commission (1939). Electricity Supply 1937-38. London: HMSO. pp. E212-15, F552-577.
  6. ^ The Electricity Council (1987). Electricity Supply in the United Kingdom. London: The Electricity Council. p. 60. ISBN 085188105X.