This timeline outlines the key developments in the United Kingdom electricity industry from the start of electricity supplies in the 1870s to the present day. It identifies significant developments in technology for the generation, transmission and use of electricity; outlines developments in the structure of the industry including key organisations and facilities; and records the legislation and regulations that have governed the UK electricity industry. The first part is a chronological table of significant events; the second part is a list of local acts of Parliament (1879–1948) illustrating the growth of electricity supplies.

Significant events

The following is a list of significant events in the history of the electricity sector in the United Kingdom.

Local legislation timeline

In addition to the public general acts on electricity supply given in the above table, there were also local acts. The Electric Lighting Acts 1882 to 1909 permitted local authorities and companies to apply to the Board of Trade for provisional orders and licences to supply electricity. The orders were confirmed by local Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation Acts. Local authorities and companies could also obtain local acts for electricity supply. A sample of local acts is given in the table below. Note that local acts have a chapter number for the relevant year in lower-case Roman numerals. {| class="wikitable" !Year !Chapter !Title of Act !Provisions

1879 – 1884

1885 – 1889

1890 – 1894

1895 – 1899

1900 – 1904

1905 – 1909

1910 – 1914

1915 – 1919

1920 – 1924

1925 – 1929

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1930 – 1939

1940 – 1948

Sources