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Timeline of the UK electricity supply industry facts for kids

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The United Kingdom's journey with electricity began in the 1870s. This timeline shows how electricity has been made, sent, and used over the years. It also covers the important groups, buildings, and laws that have shaped the UK's electricity world.

Key Moments in UK Electricity

Here are the most important events in the history of electricity in the United Kingdom.

Year What Happened
1879 The first law about electric lighting in the UK was passed for Liverpool Corporation. It allowed Liverpool to light its streets with electricity.
1882 The Electric Lighting Act of 1882 made it possible for people, companies, or local councils to set up electricity systems. However, local councils could take over these companies after 21 years, which made some companies hesitant to invest.
The Edison Electric Light Station opened in London. It was the world's first power station to use coal to make electricity for street lights. It lost money and closed in 1886.
1888 The Electric Lighting Act of 1888 made it easier to start an electricity supply company. It also extended the time before a local council could take over a company to 42 years.
1890 The Belfast Electric Lighting Order 1890 allowed Belfast to make and sell electricity.
The Electric Lighting (Scotland) Act 1890 was passed for Scotland.
1891 London Electric Supply Corporation (LESCo) opened Deptford Power Station. This was the UK's first power system using alternating current (AC), which was designed by Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti.
1894 Londonderry started getting electricity under a law from 1891.
1899 The Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899 set common rules for new electricity projects. It stopped companies from joining together or supplying electricity outside their set areas.
1901 The Newcastle upon Tyne Electric Supply Company (NESCo) opened Neptune Bank Power Station. This was the first in the UK to supply three-phase electric power, which is more efficient for large systems.
1902 The Electric Lighting (Scotland) Act 1902 was passed.
1904 The London Electric Lighting Areas Act 1904 changed the areas that electricity companies served in London.
1905 Lots Road Power Station started working. It supplied electricity to London's underground electric trains.
1906 Greenwich power station opened. It was built by the London County Council to power London's tram system.
1908 The London Electric Supply Act 1908 gave the London County Council the power to buy electricity companies.
1909 The Electric Lighting Act of 1909 set rules for getting permission to build power stations.
1910 The London Electric Supply Act 1910 made the London County Council responsible for buying electricity companies that the 1908 Act didn't cover.
1919 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 created the Electricity Commission. This group was set up to manage electricity centrally, organize it by region, and focus on making electricity in large power stations.
The government department in charge of electricity changed from the Board of Trade to the new Ministry of Transport.
1922 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1922 gave financial powers to regional electricity groups. Four of these groups were then set up.
1924 The UK's first large, curved concrete cooling tower was built at Lister Drive power station in Liverpool.
1925 The London Electricity (No. 1) Act 1925 allowed four electricity companies in south and east London to merge.
The London Electricity (No. 2) Act 1925 allowed ten electricity companies in south and west London to merge. It also created the London Power Company to make electricity in a few big power stations, like Battersea.
The Statutory Gas Companies (Electricity Supply Powers) Act 1925 made it easier for gas companies to also supply electricity.
1926 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 created the Central Electricity Board and the National Grid. The National Grid is a system of high-voltage power lines that connects power stations across the country. It operated at 132,000 volts.
1927 The London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority Act 1927 gave more powers to the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority.
1928 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1928 made small changes to the 1919 Act.
1931 The Electricity (Supply) Act (Northern Ireland) 1931 created a government-appointed Electricity Board for Northern Ireland.
1932 A 132,000-volt power line was built over the River Thames. Its towers were the tallest in the UK at the time.
A new rule for railways allowed only specific direct current (DC) systems for electric trains.
1933 The 132,000-volt National Grid started working as a connected system of regional grids.
Battersea A power station started making electricity.
The Electricity (Supply) Act 1933 made small changes to earlier electricity laws.
1935 The Electricity (Supply) Act 1935 set rules for how much power stations would charge for electricity. It also allowed the Central Electricity Board to supply electricity directly to railways.
1936 The Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936 allowed inspectors to check and approve electricity meters in homes.
1938 The 132,000-volt National Grid became fully connected across the country.
1939 The Fuel and Lighting Order 1939 asked people to use 25% less electricity and gas during wartime.
1940 A law was passed to stop local councils from taking over private electricity companies, which could have caused problems during the war.
1941 The government department in charge of electricity moved back to the Board of Trade.
1942 The Ministry of Fuel and Power was created. It was in charge of coal, gas, electricity, and oil.
1943 The Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943 put the development of water power in the Scottish Highlands under government control. It created the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to build and manage hydro-electricity projects.
1947 The Electricity Act 1947 brought 625 electricity companies under government control. They were grouped into twelve area electricity boards. The power generation and the 132,000-volt National Grid were put under the British Electricity Authority.
A rule was made to standardize steam-driven power generators to two sizes: 30 megawatts (MW) and 60 MW. This rule was removed in 1950.
1948 The Electricity (Supply) Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 created the Northern Ireland Joint Electricity Committee and transferred electricity control to the Electricity Board for Northern Ireland.
1949 Dunston B power station was the first in the UK to use a "unit boiler" system, where each boiler was dedicated to one generator.
1952 An underwater direct current (DC) cable was set up between the UK and France. It could send 160 MW of power in either direction. It was taken out of service in 1982.
The North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Act 1925 allowed the Dolgarrog and Meantwrog power stations to expand.
The Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1952 extended the time for electricity meters to be officially certified.
1953 The first part of the 275,000-volt grid was built, connecting Staythorpe and West Melton.
1954 The Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act 1954 gave control of electricity in Scotland to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 created the Atomic Energy Authority to manage atomic energy in the UK.
The Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 set out the rights of electricity suppliers to enter properties.
1955 The British Electricity Authority became the Central Electricity Authority. Scottish electricity boards were combined into the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.
1956 The UK's first 100 MW generator started working at Castle Donington power station.
A committee looked into how electricity was supplied in the UK. They suggested changes, which led to the Electricity Act 1957.
1957 The Electricity Act 1957 replaced the Central Electricity Authority with the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the Electricity Council.
The UK's first "cyclone-fired" boiler started working at Barking C power station.
1958 The new head of the Central Electricity Generating Board, Christopher Hinton, Baron Hinton of Bankside, started planning huge 2,000 MW power stations and a new 400,000-volt grid system, known as the Hinton Heavies.
1959 The Electricity (Borrowing Powers) Act 1959 limited how much money the electricity groups could borrow.
The first 275,000-volt cables were used to connect a generator at Drakelow B power station to the National Grid.
The UK's first 200 MW generator started working at High Marnham power station. High Marnham was Europe's first 1,000 MW power station.
1960 Plans for a very large power station at Holme Pierrepoint were rejected because of concerns about its impact on the area.
1961 The Electricity (Amendment) Act 1961 allowed the Central Electricity Generating Board to make radioisotopes (special types of atoms) using its nuclear reactors.
1962 The UK's first commercial nuclear power stations, Berkeley (275 MW) and Bradwell (300 MW), started making electricity.
The UK's first 275 MW generator started working at Blyth B power station.
1963 The Electricity and Gas Act 1963 increased the amount of money electricity and gas boards could borrow.
1965 The first part of the 400,000-volt Supergrid was introduced. It ran 150 miles from West Burton power stations to Sundon.
Three cooling towers at Ferrybridge C power station collapsed. This led to a program to make cooling towers stronger.
The UK's first 350 MW generators started working at Drakelow C and Blyth B power stations.
1966 Sizewell A nuclear power station (580 MW) started working.
The UK's first 500 MW generator started working at Ferrybridge C power station. This size became standard for many new power stations.
The first chimney with four flues (smoke channels) in one stack was completed at Eggborough power station.
The first 275,000-volt electricity substation in London was built in Tottenham.
1967 One of the generators at Hams Hall C power station was changed to burn natural gas as well as coal.
1968 The Gas and Electricity Act 1968 further increased the borrowing powers of gas and electricity boards.
1969 The first of the new 2,000 MW power stations officially opened at West Burton power stations.
1971 The CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) was reorganized to give more power to its five operating regions.
1972 The Electricity Act 1972 raised the borrowing limit for electricity groups in England and Wales to £5.2 billion.
1973 The Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973 gave the government control over how fuel and electricity were produced and used.
1974 The UK's first 660 MW generator started working at Drax power station.
Several power stations, including Barton and Newton Abbot, were closed down.
1975 Battersea A power station was closed down.
1976 The Energy Act 1976 allowed the government to control or stop the production and use of fuels and electricity to save energy.
The UK's first advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) nuclear power stations, Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B, started working.
The CEGB announced the closure of 23 power stations and partial closure of 18 others due to too much generating capacity.
Many power stations, including Barking ‘B’ and Brighton ‘A’, were closed in March 1976.
More power stations, like Hackney ‘B’ and Peterborough, were closed in October 1976. A total of 1,967 MW of power was taken offline that year.
1977 Another 650 MW of generating capacity was closed in March, with six stations fully closed and two partly closed.
Lincoln, Llynfi, and Hayle power stations were closed.
1978 Economy 7, a special electricity tariff with cheaper night-time rates, was introduced.
Rotherham, Ocker Hill, Stourport ‘A’, and Woolwich power stations were closed.
The Nuclear Safeguards and Electricity (Finance) Act 1978 gave the CEGB £50 million to build the second part of Drax power station.
1979 The Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979 brought together previous laws about electricity supply in Scotland.
For the first time, gas turbines were used for main power generation at places like Letchworth and Ocker Hill. These used Rolls-Royce Olympus jet engines.
Bolton power station was closed.
Harts Head and Warrington power stations were closed.
1980 Several power stations, including Carlisle and Kearsley, were closed.
1981 The CEGB closed 3,400 MW of generating capacity, permanently shutting down 16 power stations.
A new type of cooling tower with 36 fans was tested at Ince B power station.
Many power stations, like Bold ‘A’ and Fleetwood, were closed.
1982 Walsall power station was closed.
Spondon power station was closed.
Chatterton ‘B’, Thornhill, Nechells ‘B’, and Rye House power stations were closed.
1983 The Energy Act 1983 allowed small-scale private electricity generators to operate.
Many power stations, including Acton Lane and Battersea, were closed.
1984 A cooling tower at Fiddler's Ferry power station collapsed in strong winds due to a design flaw.
1986 A new 270,000-volt DC underwater cable link between the UK and France was opened. It could transfer 2,000 MW of power.
1988 The UK agreed to the European Community's Large Combustion Plant Directive to reduce environmental damage from acid rain.
The Electricity (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1988 increased the borrowing powers of Scottish Electricity Boards.
1989 The Electricity Act 1989 prepared the way for selling off the electricity industry to private companies. It also created the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) to encourage competition and protect customers.
1990 The privatization of the Central Electricity Generating Board began. Its assets were split into three new companies: Powergen, National Power, and National Grid Company. Later, the nuclear power parts of National Power became a separate government-owned company called Nuclear Electric.
1991 The electricity industry in Scotland was sold to private companies.
1992 Electricity supply in Northern Ireland was sold to private companies. Premier Power was formed. A new office was set up to oversee electricity supply in Northern Ireland.
1993 The supply part of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland was privatized.
1994 A Value-added tax (VAT) of 8% was added to home energy bills.
1995 The main nuclear power plants from Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear were combined to form a new private company, British Energy.
National Grid Company plc became part of National Grid Group plc.
1997 Pembroke Power Station closed. It was the first of the large 500 MW Hinton Heavies to shut down.
2000 The Utilities Act 2000 created the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM). This new group combined and replaced the previous electricity and gas regulators.
The Utilities Act 2000 also made it a rule for electricity suppliers to get a certain amount of their electricity from renewable sources (like wind or solar).
The Isle of Man to England Interconnector, the world's longest AC underwater power cable at 104 km, started working.
2001 The Central Electricity Generating Board and the Electricity Council were officially closed down.
2002 National Grid Group plc merged with Lattice Group plc to form National Grid Transco plc. This meant the National Grid (electricity) and the gas National Transmission System were managed by one company.
2003 The Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 created the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation. The Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2003 provided financial help to British Energy plc.
2004 The Energy Act 2004 created the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. This group is responsible for cleaning up old civil nuclear power sites.
2005 National Grid Transco plc changed its name to National Grid plc.
2007 From November 1, electricity generators in Northern Ireland had to sell their electricity into the Single Electricity Market. This is a market that includes the whole island of Ireland.
2008 The Energy Act 2008 created the Renewables Obligation to support electricity from renewable sources. It also made plans for cleaning up nuclear sites and introducing smart meters.
2009 British Energy, which had become the UK's largest electricity generator, was bought by Électricité de France (EDF), a French government-owned company.
2010 The Energy Act 2010 required the government to report on reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation and developing carbon capture and storage. It also created programs to help reduce fuel poverty.
2011 BritNed, a 450,000-volt DC underwater cable connecting the UK and the Netherlands, started working. It is 260 km long and can carry 1,000 MW of power.
2012 The East–West Interconnector, a 200,000-volt DC underwater and underground cable connecting North Wales and County Wicklow in Ireland, started working. It is 261 km long and can carry 500 MW.
Kingsnorth Power Station closed. It was another one of the large Hinton Heavy power stations to shut down.
2013 Didcot Power Station closed.
Fawley Power Station closed.
2015 Ironbridge Power Station was switched off.
2016 Ferrybridge Power Station closed.
Rugeley Power Station closed.
2018 Eggborough Power Station stopped generating electricity.
The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018 was passed.
2019 The 400,000-volt DC NEMO inter-connector, connecting the UK with Belgium, started working. It is 140 km long and can carry 1,000 MW.
Cottam Power Station and Aberthaw power station, both large Hinton Heavies, closed.
2020 Fiddler's Ferry power station, another Hinton Heavy, closed.
2021 IFA-2 (Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2), a 204 km 1,000 MW DC underwater electrical connector between France and the UK, started working in January.

ElecLink, a 51 km 1,000 MW DC cable inside the Channel Tunnel connecting France and the UK, started working in September.
2022 Hunterston B nuclear power station closed in January.

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