SWEB Energy

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

SWEB Energy

Formerly	South Western Electricity Board
Founded	14 August 1947
Defunct	10 December 1993
Parent	Southern Company (1995-1999) Western Power Distribution (1999) EDF Energy (from 1999)

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)

Former headquarters of the board, Electricity House, The Centre, Bristol^[1]

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).^[2]

The total number of customers supplied by the board over its operational life was:^[3][4]

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:^[3][4]

Company timeline

In 1990, SWEB Energy was formed from the privatisation of the South Western Electricity Board.^[5]

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.^[6] The acquisition was authorised by the European Commission in Jul.1999.^[7] EDF discontinued the 'SWEB' brand name on 5 June 2006.