Department of Energy and predecessors: Electrical Division and predecessors: Registered...

Files in the EL series in this series cover every aspect of electricity generation and transmission. Apart from nationalisation, the division was concerned with the nuclear power programme, research and liaison with international authorities, the electricity consultative councils, planning applications for power stations and overhead lines and other environmental matters, and technical subjects including meter testing and approval.

The series also contains the following which are in the GE series: POWE 14/ 3, 15, 17, 19, 23, 488-496. Some of these include papers which were re-registered on transfer from the Board of Trade to the Gas and Electricity Division of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, whilst the others were produced exclusively during the time of the Ministry of Fuel and Power. The series also includes papers re-registered from the Electricity Commission (which was dissolved on nationalisation of the electricity industry in August 1948 by Statutory Instrument no 1769) and some early files opened in the Ministry of Transport, which transferred responsibility to the Board of Trade in September 1941.

Also contains files from the Electricity Division of the Ministry of Power and its successors. The files relate to administration and legislation, electric lighting companies, distribution charges, metering, overhead lines, power stations (including nuclear installations) and generating plant.The series includes the papers of the Committees of Inquiry into the Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales, 1954-1956, and the Committee of Enquiry into Delays in Commissioning of New Power Stations, 1968-1969.

The files is this series have been transferred in more than one batch. They are arranged in previous reference order within each accession.

Many of the files between POWE 14/1609-1741 were very bulky and, for conservation reasons, have had to be split into parts. Each part of these spilt files has been given a separate piece number, but retains its original reference number. Since some former references now constitute as many as ten separate pieces, we would remind readers of the bulk order facility whereby they can order up to fifty consecutive pieces or thirty non-consecutive pieces from the same series, by prior arrangement. Those wishing to do so should contact our Repository Manager to book a date for their order.

• Board of Trade, 1786-1970
• Department of Trade and Industry, Electricity and Nuclear Fuels Directorate, 1994-1996
• Department of Trade and Industry, Electricity Division, 1970-1974
• Electricity Commission, 1919-1948
• Ministry of Fuel and Power, Electricity Division, 1947-1957
• Ministry of Fuel and Power, Gas and Electricity Division, 1942-1947
• Ministry of Power, Electricity Division, 1957-1969
• Ministry of Technology, Electricity Division, 1969-1970
• Ministry of Transport, Secretarial Department, Electricity Branch, 1920-1941

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Topics

Trade and commerce

Transport management

Nuclear energy

Oil and gas

Electricity

Official publications

Planning (Land and Property)

Electricity Division / Electricity and Nuclear Fuels Division / Electricity Directorate

The Electricity Division was transferred from the Department of Energy to the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the 1992 merger between the two departments. The remit of the group went unchanged. In early 1999, the Electricity Directorate broadened its scope to include matters relating to downstream gas, such as sponsorship; consumer issues; competition and regulation policy. It was renamed the Energy Utilities Directorate to reflect these changes.

Energy Policy, Technology, Analysis and Coal

The Energy Policy, Technology, Analysis and Coal team (EPTAC) was formed in 1999 following a merger of the Energy Technologies Directorate and the Energy Policy and Analysis Unit. This group was responsible for the co-ordination and development of energy policy, including EU energy policy and power station consents policy; new and renewable energy technologies, including cleaner coal; economic and statistical advice and analysis, on energy and environmental issues; sponsorship of the UK coal market and industry; and for the policy and management of coal health liabilities. EPTAC existed unchanged until 2002, whereby its responsibilities were divided between the Coal Policy Directorate and the Energy Policy Directorate.