work their undertaking otherwise than in accordance with the order and the principal Act, or to supply energy otherwise than by a system for the time being approved of by the Board of Trade under the order.

These are the regulations and conditions for securing the safety of the public and for ensuring a proper and sufficient supply of electrical energy, made by the Board of Trade under the provisions of the Electric Lighting Acts, 1882 and 1888, and of the

referred to in the letter from the Board of Trade to
day of

one thousand eight hundred and ninetyand that date shall be deemed to be the date of these

regulations.

Regula

tions.

E.L.

Assistant Secretary,

Board of Trade.

Principal regulations.

ADDENDA IN 1901 TO REGULATIONS.

IN Regulations B. "for ensuring a proper and sufficient supply of electrical energy," the Board of Trade had originally added a proviso to Regulation 6 (declared pressure at consumers' terminals) to the following effect :

"Provided that no change shall be made in the pressure of the supply to

any premises which at the date of these regulations are supplied with energy by the undertakers except with the consent of the consumer."

It was found in practice that while consumers as a body may have been willing to allow a change of pressure, as, for example, from 100 to 200 volts, any consumer or small minority of consumers might withhold their consent under this proviso. Many representations having been made to the Board of Trade on this subject, they invited the parties concerned to a conference which was held at the Westminster Town Hall in March, 1901. The late Sir Courtenay Boyle, K.C.B., presided. The Westminster Electric Supply Corporation, the City of London Electric Lighting Company, the Chelsea Electric Supply Corporation, the Metropolitan Electric Supply Corporation, the London County Council, the Corporation of the City of London, and various other Corporations and Metropolitan Boroughs were represented by counsel (Electrician, March 8th, 1901, p. 748; March 15th, 1901, p. 832; March 29th, 1901, p. 871).

After hearing and considering the evidence and arguments adduced, the Board of Trade determined to alter the Regulations so as to meet the case of consumers withholding consent. Accordingly the Board of Trade issued to all companies and local authorities then under regulations the following additional regulations :

BOARD OF TRADE ELECTRIC LIGHTING

REGULATIONS.

REGULATIONS MADE BY THE BOARD OF TRADE FOR ENSURING A
PROPER AND SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY.
1. In these regulations the expression "principal regulations
means the regulations for ensuring a proper and sufficient supply

of electrical energy made by the Board of Trade under the

Regulations.

Order,

and referred to in

the letter from the Board of Trade to

of the

day of

2. Regulation five of the principal regulations shall be read as Amendment if the following provision were added at the end thereof:

of Regulation 5 of

"Provided that so long as effect is given to the next following principal regulation the Undertakers shall not be bound, under this regula- regulations. tion or any regulation corresponding thereto, previously made, to comply with any condition which has been or may be imposed thereunder, the effect of which is to prohibit any change in the pressure of the supply to any premises except with the consent of the consumer."

3. Regulation six of the principal regulations shall be read as Amendment if the following provision were added at the end thereof:

"But where the consumer withholds his consent after the Undertakers have offered to comply with the general terms and conditions imposed by the local authority (r) and, if not required to do so under those terms and conditions, also to pay the reasonable cost of or incidental to the change (including compensation for any loss or damage incurred in consequence of the change), the Undertakers may appeal to the Board of Trade, and that Board may, if they think fit, give their consent to the change on such terms and conditions as they impose, and the consent of the Board so given shall for the purpose of this regulation have the same effect as the consent of the consumer.

The Board of Trade may, if they think it necessary in any case, refer to a single arbitrator appointed by them to determine what terms and conditions it would be proper to impose under this provision in case the consent of the Board is given.

Any such arbitration shall be subject to the like provisions as an arbitration in pursuance of a special Act under Part I. of the Board of Trade Arbitrations, &c. Act, 1874, and shall also be subject to the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1889, as if the arbitration were pursuant to a submission, except that the powers under the last mentioned Act with respect to the costs of the

(r) See the footnote (a), ante, p. 243. The form above inserted is that applicable to provincial companies. In County of London orders, the London County Council is substituted for the "local authority." In the case of local authorities the Board of Trade is substituted for "local authority."

of Regulation 6 of

principal regulations.

Regula

tions.

reference and award shall be exercised by the Board of Trade instead of by the arbitrator.

Made by the Board of Trade this

day of

Assistant Secretary,

Board of Trade.

In the case of companies within the administrative County of London the London County Council is substituted for the Local Authority in these Regulations. In all new regulations made since the conference the proviso to Regulation 6 above referred to is omitted altogether. That being so, any alteration of standard pressure must depend upon Regulation 5. The consequence is that standard pressure may be altered with the consent, not of the consumer, but of the Local Authority in the provinces (and in the administrative County of London the London County Council) upon such terms and conditions as they may impose, the Undertakers being entitled to appeal against any decision of the Local Authority to the Board of Trade, whose decision is final. Where the Undertakers are themselves the Local Authority the Board of Trade is substituted for the Local Authority.

In the following regulations :

The expression "Energy" means electrical energy, and for the purposes of the Electric Lighting Act, 1888, and these regulations, electrical energy shall be deemed to be an agency within the meaning of the word "electricity" as defined in the Electric Lighting Act, 1882.

The expression " Owner means any body or person owning or using or entitled to use any electric lines or works, upon whom notice has been served by the Board of Trade requiring that such electric lines or works shall be continued and used only in accordance with these regulations.

"Consumer" means any body or person

The expression "Consumer

supplied with energy by the owner.

The expression " Aerial line" means an electric line which is placed above ground and in the open air.

The expression "Service line" means an electric line through which energy may be supplied or intended to be supplied by the owner to any separate premises.

The expression "Pressure" means the difference of electrical potential between any two conductors through which a supply of energy is given, or between any part of either conductor and the earth; and where the conditions of the supply are such that the pressure may at any time

(s) As to the purpose and substance of these regulations, see notes to s. 4 of Electric Lighting Act, 1888, p. 149. These regulations were made in 1897.