CEGB

The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was a British state-owned corporation responsible for electricity generation and high-voltage transmission in England and Wales from 1958 to 1990. It was created by the Electricity Act 1957, taking over generation and transmission functions from the British Electricity Authority and consolidating them with those of the regional electricity boards under a single national body. The CEGB operated alongside the regional electricity boards, which retained responsibility for distribution and retail supply to customers in their areas.

Its core tasks included planning and developing new power stations, operating a diverse mix of generation plants (coal-fired, oil- and gas-fired, and nuclear), and managing the national high-voltage transmission network. The CEGB also coordinated links with Scotland and neighbouring systems, and it was responsible for system security, tariff policy within its area, and long-term planning under government direction.

Governance and structure: The CEGB was overseen by a board and reported to the government through the Electricity Council and the Minister for Energy, operating within the broader public-sector framework of the time.

Dissolution and privatization: Under the Electricity Act 1989, the CEGB was dissolved and its functions were divided as part of a wider privatization program. The high-voltage transmission network was separated to form the National Grid Company, while the generation arm was divided into separate companies (later known as National Power and PowerGen). Nuclear generation assets were separated and eventually reorganized, with the nuclear business later forming British Energy in the mid-1990s.

Legacy: The CEGB’s centralized structure and its dissolution during privatization significantly shaped the transition to a liberalized UK electricity market, influencing investment, competition, and market governance in the ensuing decades.