South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company

The South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited was a British electricity undertaking. It was established in 1904 upon the amalgamation of two south London companies which had supplied electricity in south east London since 1893. It owned and operated a power station at Blackwell Point and one at Penge. From 1925 it formed an association with three other London companies, with the intention of centralising electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The South Metropolitan Company was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry.

South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company
TypePublic limited company
IndustryEnergy: Electricity generation and supply
FateNationalisation
PredecessorCrystal Palace District Electric Supply Company; Blackheath and Greenwich District Electric Light Company
SuccessorBritish Electricity Authority and London Electricity Board
Founded16 June 1904
Defunct31 March 1948
Headquarters
London
Area served
London, Kent (part), Surrey (part)
Key people
see text
ServicesElectricity supply
Revenue£27,796 (1923)

Background

The South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited took over the interests of several early south London electricity supply companies.

The Electric Construction and Maintenance Company was registered on 30 June 1883.[1] The name was changed to the Electric Installation and Maintenance Company on 2 December 1889, and then to the Crystal Palace District Electric Supply Company on 19 December 1891. A Provisional Order to supply electricity was granted by the Board of Trade in 1890.[2] The Crystal Palace District Company supplied electricity to parts of the districts Camberwell, Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon, Beckenham and Penge from February 1893.[1]

The Blackheath and Greenwich District Electric Light Company Limited was registered on 11 May 1896.[1] A Provisional Order was granted by the Board of Trade in 1897[3] to supply electricity to Greenwich, Charlton, Eltham, Lee, Kidbrook, and Lewisham. The local authorities had the right to purchase the part of the undertaking within its district at a premium of 33 per cent above the capital expended. Electricity supplies started from Blackwall Point power station in 1900.[1]

On 16 June 1904 the Crystal Palace District undertaking was taken over by the Blackheath and Greenwich District Electric Light Company Limited. Following the take-over the combined undertaking was known as the South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited.[1] The Company’s  supply area comprised the Metropolitan Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich except the parish of St Nicholas Deptford, the Urban District of Penge, a small part of the south of the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth, and a small part of the south of the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell. The Company was authorised to supply current to small areas in the Croydon County Borough and the Beckenham and Penge Urban Districts.[4]

Operations

Management Board

The management board of the South Metropolitan Company in 1909 comprised:[5]

  • Henry St John Winkworth (Chairman)
  • William May
  • Henry White Bowden (Managing Director)

The company offices were at 183-185 High Street Lewisham.

In 1936–38 the board was composed of:[6]

The company offices were at County House, 46/47 New Broad Street, London EC2.[6]

Power stations

The Crystal Palace District generating works was known as the Springfield Works, and was located in Springfield Road, Sydenham. The works were opened in 1893 and closed about 1904–10.[7]

Penge power station also supplied electricity to the South Metropolitan Company system.[7]

The Blackheath and Greenwich Company build a power station at Blackwall Point on the site of the East Greenwich tide mill. It opened in February 1900.[7]

In 1923 the plant at Blackwall Point comprised:[8]

  • Boilers:
    • Coal fired boilers producing 371,000 lb/h (46.7 kg/s/) of steam which supplied:
  • Generators:

These machines had a total generating capacity of 20,000 kW.

The electricity available to customers was:

  • 2-phase AC 50 Hz, or 3-phase AC 50 Hz, at 400, 200 and 100 Volts.[8]

Operational data

The amount of electricity load for the Crystal Palace District undertaking was as follows:[5]

Crystal Palace District operational data, 1893–1903
Year Equivalent 8 candle-power (35 W) lamps Electricity load, kW
1893 3,913 136.9
1894 7,337 256.8
1895 9,058 317.0
1896 12,103 423.6
1897 16,523 578.3
1903 31,400 1,099.0


The amount of electricity and number of customers of the Blackheath and Greenwich District operations 1900–03 was as follows.[5]

Blackheath and Greenwich District operational data, 1900–03
Year No. of 8 c-p ( 35 W) lamps Electricity load, kW No. of customers
1900 14,473 506.6 342
1901 29,449 1,030.7 746
1902 44,961 1,573.6 1,234
1903 60,540 2,118.9 1,784


Both data tables demonstrate the rapid increase in electricity demand for electricity during this period. Comparative data for the Blackheath and Crystal Palace undertakings in 1903 was as follows.[5][4]

Blackheath and Crystal Palace operational data, 1903
Undertaking Blackheath and Greenwich Crystal Palace
Capacity of plant, kW 2,000 855
Maximum load, kW 1,035 530
No. of customers 1,734 –
Equivalent 8 c-p lamps 60,540 31,400
Electricity sold, MWh 1,180 424
Load factor, per cent 13.02 9.10

The data demonstrates that the Crystal Palace undertaking was about half the size of the Blackheath and Greenwich undertaking.

Electricity supply

The business of the South Metropolitan Company increased to meet the rising demand for electricity. The following table summarises the growth of the Company in terms of capacity of the plant, the electricity load, the amount of current sold, and the number of customers.[1][4][5][6][8][9][10][11]

South Metropolitan Company operating data, 1904–1946
Year Capacity of plant, kW Max load, kW Electricity sold, MWh No. customers Connected load, kW Load factor, per cent
1904 2,000 1,035 1,180 2,555 13.02
1905 2,858
1906 3,201
1907 3,383
1908 3,649
1912 6,000 4,000 5,481 5,263 9,060 15.6
1913 6,662
1919 20,000 8,500 15,643 7,641 21,332 21.0
1921 20,000 10,150 17,643 22,900 25.0
1922 20,000 9,000 19,698 24,160 29.3
1923 20,000 10,000 20,765 24,430 29.8
1924 25,182
1931 55,864
1933 75,643
1934 97,785
1935 113,338
1936 20,000 50,140 139,650 48,177 170,419 33.4
1946 15,680 15,337

The growth in sales of electricity in MWh is shown on the following graphs.

From 1903 the South Metropolitan Company was authorised to supply electricity in bulk to the West Kent Electric Company;[12] in 1923 the South Metropolitan supplied the Kent Company 5,323 MWh.[13]

Electricity use

Electricity was originally used for lighting but ‘power’ uses were soon established. The following table illustrates the changing patterns of use.[14][8][13]

South Metropolitan Company End use of Electricity, 1921–1936, MWh
Use, MWh Year
1921 1922 1923 1924 1931 1936
Public lighting 0 0 0 0 71 874
Domestic supply 3,162 3,738 4,265 19,644 40,335 47,888
Power and heat 9,381 9,863 11,732 41,222
Traction 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bulk supply 5,099 5,097 4,707 5,538 14,458 49,666
Total 17,643 18,698 20,705 25,182 55,864 139,650

Financial statistics

The capital required to establish, build and operate the business was raised through the offer of shares. Capital expenditure was needed for the purchase of land, buildings, machinery, mains, transformers, meters, electrical instruments, legal costs, fixtures and furniture at the stations.[1] The capital expenditure for the Crystal Palace Company in 1896 was £75,770  1s  9d, and in 1897 was £7,965  15s 1d.[1]

Crystal Palace financial data, 1893–1897
Year Receipts, £ s d Working cost £ s d
1893 857 17  2 3,354 11  5
1894 1,977 14  7 3,675 12  3
1895 2,611 2  10 3,668 18  0
1896 3,491 15  9 4,305 17  6
1897 4,604 2  8 5,244 10  2


The Blackheath and Greenwich, and South Metropolitan (from 1904) Company current account revenue was as follows.[5]

Blackheath and Greenwich, and South Metropolitan (from 1904) current account revenue.
Year Gross revenue, £ s d Expenditure, £ s d Net revenue, £ s d
1900 4,195 2  1 4,050 4 2 114 17  11
1901 7,080 9  7 5,658 5  4 2,150 4  3
1902 14,334 5 2 6,978 13  10 7,355 11  4
1903 19,450 1  10 8,409 0  0 11,041 1  10
1904 28,793 16  6 12,222 0 3 16,574 16  3
1905 35,421   13  11 13,290 4  7 22,131 9  4
1906 38,244 13 6 14,125 15  10 24,118 17  8
1907 43,302 9  5 16,234 10 3 27, 067 19  0
1908 (estimate) 43,000 0 0 16,000 0  0 27,000 0  0


Share offers were made on several occasions throughout the operating life of the company. For example, in 1909 an issue of 50,000 six per cent shares at £1 were offered. In 1938 an issue of £500,000 3½ per cent debenture stock and 500,000 4 per cent £1 shares were offered.[5][6]

The overall revenue, expenses and profit for the South Metropolitan Company were as shown.[8][13]

South Metropolitan current account revenue, 1913–1923
Year Revenue, £ Expenditure, £ Profit, £
1913 56,465 19,488 3,933
1919 160,929 91,442 84,901
1922 216,760 116,493 101,316
1923 227,796 95,176 134,929

To meet the requirement of increased demand, capital expenditure on new plant and equipment was required, as shown on the table below.[9][14]

South Metropolitan capital expenditure, 1907–1919.
Year 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912
Capital expenditure £42,282 £38,922 £19,062 £20,719 £18,622 £24,126
Year 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
Capital expenditure £19,805 £22,869 £52,890 £54,300 £63,398 £94,329


Dividends to shareholders were paid throughout the operational life of the company. Dividends as a percentage of the total capital raised in a given year were as shown, together with the average dividends paid by the London company electricity undertakings.[14][9]

South Metropolitan Company Shareholder dividends, 1900–1919
Year 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
Dividend % 0.66 2.19 2.19 3.01 3.21 4.30 4.73 4.52 4.73 4.28
Average dividend % 4.60 5.29 5.55 5.51 5.79 5.65 5.40 5.14 5.12 5.07
Year 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
Dividend % 4.28 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.37 5.14 5.16 5.51 5.07 5.69
Average dividend % 5.07 5.11 5.18 5.33 5.10 4.87 4.68 5.32 4.96 5.76


Company profits in the mid-1930s were: £114,325 (1935); £119,762 (1936); and £149,933 (1937).[6]

Joint working

The South Metropolitan Company and three other companies in south and east London promoted the London Electricity (No.1) Act 1925. The four companies were: the City of London Electric Lighting Company; the County of London Electric Supply Company Limited; the South London Electric Supply Corporation Limited; and the South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited. They established a joint committee to specify how generating stations of each company were operated. The companies remained district electricity supply undertakings; although they were physically joined with interconnecting cables.[15] The companies envisaged that power stations such as Barking would provide enough capacity for their electricity requirements. The Act required equal consideration for the interests of shareholders and consumers. Dividends to shareholders were limited to 7 percent per year and the funds that could be carried forward in the accounts were restricted. Profits above these conditions formed a ‘consumers’ benefit’ in the form of lower prices.[15]

The County of London Company built the 118.75 MW Barking A power station which was commissioned in 1925. This was followed by the 303.5 MW Barking B commissioned from 1933.[7]

These interconnections and those provided by the national grid enabled the bulk transfer of electricity. In 1931 the South Metropolitan Company generated 35,157 MWh and purchased 30,216 MWh.[16]  

Government policy

Under the terms of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 (16-17 Geo. 5 c. 51)[17] the Central Electricity Board (CEB) was established.[18] The CEB identified high efficiency ‘selected’ power stations that would supply electricity most effectively. The CEB also constructed the national grid (1927–33) to connect power stations within a region.

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10-11 Geo. 6 c. 54).[19] The South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company Limited undertaking was abolished, ownership of Blackwall Point and Penge power stations were vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB).[18] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the South Metropolitan electricity undertaking were transferred to the London Electricity Board (LEB).[18]

Blackwall Point power station was operational until 1948, when the British Electricity Authority rebuilt it as a 100 MW station. Barking A and B power stations were operational until 1969 and 1976 respectively.[7]

See also

References
  1. Garcke, Emile (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 109–10, 163–66.
  2. This was confirmed by Parliament by the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No.12) Act, 1890
  3. This was confirmed by Parliament by the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No.11) Act 1897
  4. London County Council (1898). London County Council London Statistics 1904–05 vol. XV. London: LCC. pp. 434–5.
  5. "South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company, Limited". The Times. 1 February 1909. p. 15.
  6. "South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Company, Limited". The Times. 25 July 1938. p. 23.
  7. "London's power stations". metadyne. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 208–11, 484–89.
  9. London County Council (1915). London Statistics 1913–14 vol. XXIV,. London: LCC. pp. 536–63.
  10. London County Council (1939). London Statistics 1936–38 vol. 41. London: LCC. pp. 370–93.
  11. Electricity Commission (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 13.
  12. Authorisation was given by the Blackheath and Greenwich District Electric Light Company's Act 1903
  13. London County Council (1926). London County Council London Statistics 1924–25 vol. XXX. London: LCC. pp. 290–309.
  14. London County Council (1922). London Statistics 1920–21 vol. XXVII. London: LCC. pp. 276–305.
  15. Murray, S (2018). "Electrifying the City: Power and Profit at the City of London Electric Lighting Company Limited". The London Journal. 43 (1): 72–91.
  16. London County Council (1934). London Statistics 1932–33 vol. 37. London: London County Council. pp. 333–51.
  17. "Electricity (Supply) Act 1926". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  18. Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 45, 60, 69, 73. ISBN 085188105X.
  19. "Electricity Act 1947". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
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