The economic utilization of electricity in Great Britain

The paper considers the application and cost of electricity in this country, with the economical use of raw fuel. It is pointed out that the development of low prices per kilowatt-hour to encourage an improved load factor has had no regard for economy in the use of coal, a matter which is now vital to the nation, and that heat units are of greater importance than artificial monetary values. The paper covers a wide field, with the object of provoking consideration of all aspects of the use of electricity, and generally no attempt has been made to develop closely detailed arguments. The application of the electric drive in industry is criticized. Tables are provided to indicate the wasteful use of motors, and proposals are made for effecting the necessary improvements. The integration of electrical generation with other forms of energy is briefly considered. The possibility of providing a cheap supply of energy for electrolytic and electrochemical processes from a coal-fired station is considered, and the author concludes that in certain circumstances the cost could be brought within the limits regarded as essential by those industries.