Editing SWEB Energy

{{Short description|British electricity supplier (1947–1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox company
| former_name = South Western Electricity Board
| parent = {{ubl|[[Southern Company]] (1995-1999)|[[Western Power Distribution]] (1999)|[[EDF Energy]] (from 1999)}}
}}

'''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 [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher government]]. Although sold many times, the 'SWEB' brand name survived until 2006.

The [[distribution network operator]] for the former SWEB area is now [[National Grid Electricity Distribution]]. The incumbent electricity retail company is [[EDF Energy]].

== South Western Electricity Board (SWEB) ==
[[File:Electricity House, Colston Avenue, Bristol.png|thumb|Former headquarters of the board, [[Electricity House, Bristol|Electricity House]], [[The Centre, Bristol]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://manchesterhistory.net/architecture/1930/electricityhouse.html |title=Electricity House, Bristol, UK |publisher=Manchester History |work=Different Architecture for Different Times |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref>]]
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), and full-time member C.E. Knight (1964, 1967).<ref>''Electricity Council Publicity brochures'' 1964 and 1967</ref>

The total number of customers supplied by the board over its operational life was:<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Electricity Council|title=Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1979|publisher=The Electricity Council|year=1980|isbn=0851880762|location=London|pages=58 63}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Electricity Council|title=Handbook of Electricity Supply Statistics 1989|publisher=The Electricity Council|year=1990|isbn=085188122X|location=London|pages=51 56}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+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:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><graph>{
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					"x": 1949,
					"y": 1173
				},
				{
					"x": 1956,
					"y": 2349
				},
				{
					"x": 1961,
					"y": 3647
				},
				{
					"x": 1966,
					"y": 5704
				},
				{
					"x": 1967,
					"y": 6124
				},
				{
					"x": 1968,
					"y": 6797
				},
				{
					"x": 1969,
					"y": 7309
				},
				{
					"x": 1970,
					"y": 7755
				},
				{
					"x": 1971,
					"y": 8325
				},
				{
					"x": 1972,
					"y": 9030
				},
				{
					"x": 1976,
					"y": 9441
				},
				{
					"x": 1978,
					"y": 9816
				},
				{
					"x": 1979,
					"y": 10206
				},
				{
					"x": 1980,
					"y": 10280
				},
				{
					"x": 1981,
					"y": 10100
				},
				{
					"x": 1982,
					"y": 10817
				},
				{
					"x": 1987,
					"y": 11508
				},
				{
					"x": 1988,
					"y": 11703
				},
				{
					"x": 1989,
					"y": 11950
				}
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==Company timeline==
In 1990, SWEB Energy was formed from the privatisation of the South Western Electricity Board.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:XLRCnkZwzowJ:www.ifs.org.uk/fs/articles/0036a.pdf+%22sweb+privatised+in%22&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjfy17gcVdKd_FT6NzNZNxGZlRQjQqbm7b1tzfM5xz1DT2PPBFTk1g3AL18Y_poB1aVNbv4LTPNNi_7OkpufUI8vbsdzU8nZodBbQZTpdenHyIIfHKhp-y2e2C8SJ0xBjzy-VmR&sig=AHIEtbT_AkTPJaX4-nhUWG4JqNZWBXmx6w|The Restructuring and Privatisation of Electricity Distribution and Supply Businesses in England and Wales: A Social Cost–Benefit Analysis]</ref>

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

In 1999, the company was bought by the [[PPL Corporation]] distribution company [[Western Power Distribution]] and was split into two. Western Power itself (officially known as WPD South West) dealt with the local distribution, metering and substations, and the 'SWEB' brand name was continued as a retail energy utility.

In June 1999, SWEB was sold to French-owned [[EDF Energy]].<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/french-beat-british-energy-again-with-pounds-160m-sweb-deal-1099624.html French beat British Energy again with £160m Sweb deal], The Independent, Jun.12.1999</ref> The acquisition was authorised by the European Commission in Jul.1999.<ref>[http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-99-544_en.htm Commission clears acquisition of SWEB (United Kingdom) by EdF (France)], European Commission, Press Release, Jul.20.1999</ref> EDF discontinued the 'SWEB' brand name on 5 June 2006.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004559/http://www.fuelmix.co.uk/edf_energy_fuel_mix_2006.htm EDF Energy's Fuel Mix for 2006]
*[http://www.swehs.co.uk/tactive/sparkhome.php HISTELEC NEWS], South Western Electricity Historical Society documents

{{Electricity generation in South West England}}
{{Area Electricity Board}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Electric power companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Former nationalised industries of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Utilities of the United Kingdom]]