The South of Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) generated, transmitted and distributed electricity throughout the south of Scotland, including the former regions of Strathclyde, Lothian, Fife, Central, Borders and Dumfries and Galloway and a few towns in northern England. It operated from 1955 to 1991.

History

As established by the Electricity Act 1947 there were two British Electricity Authority divisions responsible for the generation of electricity in Scotland based in Glasgow and Edinburgh.^[1] There were also two area boards for distribution of electricity responsible to the British Electricity Authority and to the Minister of Fuel and Power. It was thought by the industry and government^[2] that a single board for the South of Scotland would be better placed to cover the whole area and would provide administrative advantages such as simplification. The South of Scotland would then be in line with the North of Scotland which was covered by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for both the generation and distribution of electricity. The new arrangement would provide a more efficient service and better match Scotland's needs.^[3][2]

The Electricity Reorganisation (Scotland) Act 1954 transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland the responsibility for electricity matters in Scotland and established the South of Scotland Electricity Board, a new public authority for the generation and distribution of electricity in the South of Scotland.^[3] Scotland was given control of its own electricity undertakings, and the responsibility for adequate performance became the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland.^[3][2] On 1 April 1955, South West Scotland Electricity Board and South East Scotland Electricity Board were merged into the South of Scotland Electricity Board.^[4]

The board operated conventional coal-fired steam stations, hydro-electric stations and nuclear power stations.^[1]

The board was dissolved in 1991 as a consequence of the Electricity Act 1989 which privatised the British electricity industry.^[5]

Constitution

The 1954 Act specified the management board was to comprise a chairman and not less than four and not more than eight members. All appointments to the board were to be made by the Secretary of State for Scotland.^[1]

The Board's headquarters were at Sauchiehall Street and Inverlair Avenue Glasgow.^[1]

Chairmen

South East Scotland Electricity Board

• 1948–1955: Sir Robert Norman Duke, KBE, CB, DSO, MC^[6][7]

South West Scotland Electricity Board

• 1948–1955: Sir John Sydney Pickles, MIEE^[8]

South of Scotland Electricity Board

• 1955–1962: Sir John Sydney Pickles, MIEE^[9]
• 1962–1967: Sir Norman Randall Elliott, CBE^[10]
• 1967–1973: Charles Lewis Cuthbert Allen, FICE, FIEE^[11]
• 1974–1977: Sir Francis Leonard Tombs, FREng (later Baron Tombs)^[12][13]
• 1977–1982: Donald Roy Berridge, CBE^[14]
• 1982–1991: Sir Donald John Miller^[15]

Electricity generation

Electricity generated by the Board was from coal-fired steam power stations, hydro-electric stations, and from 1964 from nuclear power stations.^[1]

Steam power stations

Outline details of the Steam power stations of the South of Scotland Electricity Board in 1958 are as follows:^[16]

The Board commissioned large coal-fired stations such as the 760 MW Kincardine power station (1958), the 1200 MW Inverkip (1967), the 1200 MW Cockenzie power station (1967), and the 2400 MW Longannet power station (1970).^[4]

Hydro-electric power stations

Outline details of the Hydro-electric power stations of the South of Scotland Electricity Board in 1958 are as follows:^[16]

Nuclear power stations

The South of Scotland Electricity Board commissioned three nuclear power stations.^[17][18]

Transmission

The supply of electricity was by high voltage cables. In 1958 there were 170 miles of transmission line operating at 275 kV and 841 miles at 132 kV.^[1] They connected 20 power stations and 44 transforming stations. There were connections to the North of Scotland grid system and to England via the 275 kV Clyde’s Mill to Carlisle line.^[1] By April 1989 there were 526 km of 400 kV lines; 1,565 km of 275 kV lines; 1,642 km of 132 kV lines; and 80,256 km of less than 132 kV lines.^[19]

Distribution areas

Electricity supply to customers was through eight Distribution Areas. The supply and other key data for 1956 were as follows:^[16][1]

Operating data 1949 to 1989

Key operating data for the South of Scotland Electricity Board is summarised in the table.^[19]

The amount of electricity supplied by the board, in GWh, is shown on the graph.^[19]

Dissolution

As a consequence of the Electricity Act 1989, which privatised the British electricity industry, the nuclear assets of the South of Scotland Electricity Board were transferred to Scottish Nuclear.^[5]

In January 1990 a reactor at the Hunterston A Magnox Power Station was shut down. The second reactor was shut down on 31 March 1990, the day before the nuclear generation assets (Hunterston A, Hunterston B and Torness Power Stations) were vested with Scottish Nuclear.^[5]

The remainder of the assets were privatised as Scottish Power in 1991 and the South of Scotland Electricity Board was dissolved.^[5]