British Electricity History
sepia coloured historical map of s Wales area

South Wales Electricity Board Area

The area was first defined by the Ministry of Fuel and Power in a White Paper published in January 1947, a month before debate began on the Electricity Bill.[1] Fourteen area boards were to be established for electricity distribution or retailing. Generation and transmission were to be the responsibility of the British Electricity Authority. Each area board was defined to provide a diversity of load between urban and rural areas and, where possible, avoided cutting across distribution networks.

In detail the South Wales Area included the whole of the counties of Brecknock, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Radnor, Pembroke and the southern part of Cardigan. The boundary lines drawn in 1947 continue to be entrenched in the distribution franchise area of the present day.


[1] Ministry of Fuel and Power, Electricity Supply Areas, Cmd 7007. (London: HMSO, 1947).

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