Reference
Z1890/1
Title
Bedford/Eastern Electricity Board records
Admin/biog history
In 1894 Bedford Town had a single phase AC HT Generator. It had to run 8760 hours in a year continuously and skilled labour was required. High distribution losses on light loads required High Load Factor to reduce cost. The first customers were connected in 1894 and the first bills were issued to customers on the 1st January 1895.
In 1895 there were 66 business customers, 39 in High Street, 1 in Mill Street, 3 Tavistock Street, 4 Midland Road, 3 Lime and Silver Streets, 2 St Paul's Square and 13 miscellaneous. 9 staff brought the wage bill to £6.4.3d per week. Supplies were used for mainly lighting purposes. all lamps were reduced to burn at 8 Candle Power. The filament lamp wasn't introduced until the early 1900s.
On the 1st January 1896 there were 250 customers connected and 28 staff with a wage bill of £19.4.d per week.
The Bedford undertaking was extended in the 1920s. In 1948 electricity was nationalised and Bedford became part of the Eastern Electricity Board.
Archival history
Found in a skip and retrieved by a member of staff who passed them on to Mr Sumner as someone who would be interested in them, Mr Sumner having been principal engineer at Bedford. Mr Sumner then decided to donate them to Bedfordshire Archives.
Reference
Level of description
sub-fonds