ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

"A public supply of electricity was commenced in the Potteries by the starting of the Hanley Electricity Works in the summer of 1894. In the beginning of the present century, a supply was commenced in Longton in September, 1901, the supply being on the low tension three-wire direct current system. Three or four years later supplies were .commenced in Stoke-upon-Trent and Burslem, the systems being the same as Longton, although working at a different voltage.

The six Potteries towns (including Fenton and Tunstall in addition to those already mentioned) were federated in 1910 and became the County Borough of Stoke-on-Trent. The county borough became a city in 1925. The electricity supply came under common management on 1st September, 1910, and it was thus possible for the first time to consider the district as a whole.

The area of supply comprises the City of Stoke-on-Trent and the Parish of Wolstanton in the former Wolstanton United Urban District which is now part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The supply area is about 36J square miles. Bulk supply is afforded to Newcastle-under-Lyme. Supply was first given under Provisional Orders granted for each area and these were consolidated by the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation Act, 1923.

Change-over from the single phase 100 cycles supply in the centre of Hanley and from direct current in the areas so supplied, to the more efficient three-phase alternating current system has been completed so that there is now a uniform system of supply throughout the area, viz. alternating current, 50 cycles.

To do this more than 190 three-phase transformer sub-stations have been put down over the whole of the area and from them low tension mains have been laid to afford local supplies. At 31st March, 1947, there were 479 miles of underground mains and 43 miles of overhead lines. On the same date there were 47 miles of streets and roads lighted by electricity, including 7 miles of main roads lighted by high pressure gaseous discharge lamps.

The whole of the supply for the area is purchased from the North-West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority and sold by the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation. Sales exceed 200 million units per annum.

The Electricity Department has its Information Bureau at 31 Kingsway, Stoke-upon-Trent, and extensive showrooms adjoining, where lighting fittings and all types of domestic electrical appliances are displayed in great variety. There is a model electric kitchen fitted with the latest electric cookers, water heaters, washing machines, etc., to enable the use of such equipment to be suitably demonstrated, together with a spacious Lecture Theatre fitted with a stage, in which lectures and displays can be given to audiences of between 100 and 200 people.

Facilities are offered for the hire of electrical appliances. Recently there has been opened an Electricity Service Centre at 43 Piccadilly, Hanley. This is the first of several which it is proposed to provide in different parts of the city for the convenience of consumers and prospective consumers.

The public are cordially invited to visit the Central Showrooms, or Service Centre, when information on all matters relative to the use of electrical appliances will be given, and the actual method of working demonstrated.

The Multipart tariff, however, provides the most advantageous terms to the domestic consumer. It comprises a fixed charge based on the floor area of the premises and a consumption charge of one halfpenny a unit.

There are, in addition, various alternative tariffs for domestic supplies and for business premises. Full particulars of the tariffs will gladly be given on application to the Department.

Industrial Supplies. Reference should be made to the increasing use of electricity in industry, particularly in the staple industry of the district, where use of electricity for pottery firing, as well as for motive power and other industrial purposes, is increasing very rapidly.

Bulk supplies for industrial purposes provide low charges for such use, and firms intending to open factories in the city are invited to communicate with the General Manager of the Electricity Department, who will give every information or assistance possible."