Electricity Act 1947

The issues of fragmentation, inefficiency and complexity of the British electricity supply industry had long been recognised. The Electricity (Supply) Acts 1919 and 1926 had attempted to provide central coordination and control of operations, through the creation of the Electricity Commissioners and the Central Electricity Board respectively, but with only partial effectiveness. In 1935 the government appointed a committee to examine electricity distribution under the chairmanship of Sir Harry McGowan. The Labour leader of the London County Council, Herbert Morrison, made a speech in the House of Commons in 1936 proposing that the 600-odd electricity undertakings together with the Central Electricity Board and the Electricity Commissioners should be abolished and ownership of the industry should be vested in a National Electricity Corporation. During the Second World War the Ministry of Fuel and Power was formed in June 1942 to coordinate and assume control (from the Board of Trade) of the production and supply of electricity, coal, gas and other fuels under war-time conditions. == The Electricity Act 1947 ==

The Electricity Act 1947 received royal assent on 13 August 1947. Its long title is: 'An Act to provide for the establishment of a British Electricity Authority and Area Electricity Boards and for the exercise and performance by that Authority and those Boards and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board of functions relating to the supply of electricity and certain other matters; for the transfer to the said Authority or any such Board as aforesaid of property, rights, obligations and liabilities of electricity undertakers and other bodies; to amend the law relating to the supply of electricity; to make certain consequential provision as to income tax; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid'. Provisions The provisions of the act comprise 69 sections in four parts, plus five schedules • Part I British Electricity Authority and area electricity boards • Sections 1 to 12 – including the constitution of the central authority and the electricity boards; functions of the electricity boards; powers of the minister, the central authority and electricity boards; consultative councils. • Part II Acquisition of electricity undertakings • Vesting of Assets – Sections 13 to 19 – including bodies to whom Part II applies; undertakings of local authorities; composite companies; transfer of property • Compensation to Holders of Securities – Sections 20 and 21 • Compensation to local authorities – Sections 22 to 24 • Compensation to Composite Companies – Section 25 • Control of Dividends and Interest and Safeguarding of Assets pending transfer – Sections 26 to 30 – including control of dividends and interest; income tax • Supplementary Provisions – Sections 31 to 35 – including Arbitration tribunal; enforcement • Part III Financial provisions • Sections 36 to 47 – including duties ad powers of central authority and Area Boards; tariffs; borrowing powers; British Electricity Stock; Treasury guarantees; accounts and audits. • Part IV Miscellaneous and general • Non-statutory undertakings – Section 48 – acquisition • Further provisions as to electricity supply – Sections 49 to 52 – railways; use of heat; certification of meters • Conditions of Employment and Pension Rights – Sections 53 to 56 • Consequential amendment of Statutory Provisions – Sections 57 to 59 – amendment and repeal of enactments; power to dissolve Electricity Commissioners • General – Sections 60 to 69 – making regulations; penalties; notices; inquiries; application to Scotland • Five schedules – including lists of undertakings; enactments amended and repealed. == Later enactments ==

Subsequently, the South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB), was formed by the merger of the South West Scotland Electricity Board and South East Scotland Electricity Board under the provisions of the Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act 1954. The functions of the Minister of Power in respect of electricity supply in Scotland were transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The act also made provision for the title of the British Electricity Authority to be changed to the Central Electricity Authority. All these provisions of the 1954 act came into effect on 1 April 1955. The Electricity Act 1957 dissolved the Central Electricity Authority and replaced it with two new statutory bodies, the Electricity Council and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). The 1947 act and most other related British legislation were repealed and replaced by the Electricity Act 1989. == See also ==