SWEB Energy

SWEB Energy, formerly South Western Electricity Board (SWEB) was a British state-owned regional electricity company operating in South West England which was privatised by the Thatcher government. Although sold many times, the 'SWEB' brandname survived until 2006.

The Distribution Network Operator for the former SWEB area is now Western Power Distribution. The incumbent electricity retail company is EDF Energy.

South Western Electricity Board (SWEB)
Former headquarters of the board, Electricity House, The Centre, Bristol[1]

The Board was responsible for the purchase of electricity from the electricity generator (the Central Electricity Generating Board from 1958) and its distribution and sale of electricity to customers. The key people on the Board were: Chairman A.N. Irens (1964, 1967), Deputy Chairman S.F.C. Whitmore (1964, 1967), Full time member C.E. Knight (1964, 1967).[2]

The total number of customers supplied by the Board over its operational life was:[3][4]

Number of SWEB customers 1949–89
Year 1948/9 1960/1 1965/6 1970/1 1975/6 1978/9 1980/1 1985/6 1987/8 1988/9
No. of Customers, 1000s 506 789 890 960 1040 1084 1107 1169 1206 1227

The amount of electricity, in GWh, sold by South Western Electricity Board was:[3][4]

Company timeline

In 1990 SWEB Energy was formed from the privatisation of the South Western Electricity Board.[5]

In 1995 SWEB Energy was bought by the American utility Southern Company.

In 1999 the company was bought by the American-owned distribution company Western Power Distribution and was split into two. Western Power itself (officially as WPD South West) dealt with the local distribution, metering and substations, and the 'SWEB' brandname was continued as a retail energy utility.

In Jun.1999, SWEB was sold to French-owned EDF Energy.[6] The acquisition was authorised by the European Commission in Jul.1999.[7] EDF discontinued the 'SWEB' brandname on 5 June 2006.

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References
  1. "Electricity House, Bristol, UK". Different Architecture for Different Times. Manchester History. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. Electricity Council Publicity brochures 1964 and 1967
  3. Electricity Council (1980). Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1979. London: The Electricity Council. pp. 58 63. ISBN 0851880762.
  4. Electricity Council (1990). Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1989. London: The Electricity Council. pp. 51 56. ISBN 085188122X.
  5. Restructuring and Privatisation of Electricity Distribution and Supply Businesses in England and Wales: A Social Cost–Benefit Analysis
  6. French beat British Energy again with £160m Sweb deal, The Independent, Jun.12.1999
  7. Commission clears acquisition of SWEB (United Kingdom) by EdF (France), European Commission, Press Release, Jul.20.1999
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