The National Grid is the high-voltage electric power transmission network in Great Britain, connecting power stations and major substations and ensuring that electricity generated anywhere in Great Britain can be used to satisfy demand elsewhere. There are also under-sea interconnections to northern France (HVDC Cross-Channel), Northern Ireland (HVDC Moyle), and the Isle of Man (Isle of Man to England Interconnector). Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power transmission is one process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ... Oil power plant in Iraq Coal power plant in China A power station (also power plant) is a facility for the generation of electric power. ... An aerial substation A substation is the part of an electricity transmission and distribution system where voltage is transformed generally from high to low using transformers. ... The HVDC Cross Channel is the name for the high voltage direct current connection that operates under the English Channel between the French and British electricity grids. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... The HVDC Moyle is the HVDC link between Auchencrosh in Scotland and Ballycronan More in Northern Ireland, which went in service in 2001. ... The 115-km long Isle of Man to England Interconnector is the longest AC submarine cable in the world. ...

On the breakup of the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1990 the ownership and operation of the National Grid in England and Wales passed to National Grid Company plc, later to become National Grid Transco and now National Grid plc. In Scotland the grid is owned by Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy Group. These groups also operated the systems until April 1 2005, when National Grid plc took control of day-to-day operations, though the network is still owned by the Scottish companies. The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was the cornerstone of the British electricity industry for almost 50 years, from its nationalisation in 1947 to privatisation in the 1990s. ... For the mapping grid, see the British national grid reference system. ... National Grid plc is a United Kingdom based utilities company with other operations, principally in the United States. ... Timeline of Scottish history Caledonia List of not fully sovereign nations Subdivisions of Scotland National parks (Scotland) Traditional music of Scotland Flower of Scotland Wars of Scottish Independence National Trust for Scotland Historic houses in Scotland Castles in Scotland Museums in Scotland Abbeys and priories in Scotland Gardens in Scotland... ScottishPower Plc is an energy company headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland. ... Scottish & Southern Energy Plc is a UK gas and electricity supply company with its headquarters in Perth, Scotland. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ...

History

The UK's first synchronised AC grid, running at 132 kV 50 Hz, was set up by the Central Electricity Board under the the Electricity (Supply) Act 1926. It began operating in 1933 as a series of regional grids with auxiliary interconnections for emergency use, but by 1938 the grid was operating as a national system. The grid was nationalised by the Electricity Act 1947, when the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was created. The United Kingdom Central Electricity Board was set up under The Electricity (Supply) Act 1926 to standardise the nations electricity supply. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the 1950s the grid was upgraded by adding a "supergrid" of 275 kV links, and in the 1960s the supergrid was partly upgraded to 400 kV. // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby boom from returning... The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ...

References

• UK Electricity Networks: The nature of UK electricity transmission and distribution networks in an intermittent renewable and embedded electricity generation future by Scott Butler
• The electricity supply industry and the Central Electricity Generating Board, UK Competition Commission Report 1987