Abstract :
This is essentially a survey paper. It endeavours to present concisely a clear view of the many, sometimes conflicting, influences which have conditioned the supply of electricity in London from the beginning. Particular regard is given to the activity of the enterprise which has the privileged task, for the first time, of controlling London´s electricity comprehensively. The paper presents the information in logical and, where appropriate, chronological sequence, although much of significance has had to be lightly passed over for the sake of brevity. It is shown that savings in capital and operating costs are already resulting from action on a centralized assessment of the London problems, as is enabled by the Electricity Act of 1947. The overall electrical efficiency has been improved and will become even higher as the replacement of old non-standard systems is hastened.
