The genesis of the electricity supply industry in Britain: A case study of NESCo from 1889 to 1914

McGovern, T.; McLean, T.

doi:10.1080/00076791.2016.1261827

The genesis of the electricity supply industry in Britain: A case study of NESCo from 1889 to 1914

McGovern, T.; McLean, T.

Authors

T. McGovern

T. McLean

Abstract

A study of the Newcastle upon Tyne Electric Supply Company (NESCo) provides a micro-history of the emergence of the electricity supply industry in Britain up to the First World War. This research examines the role of social capital in the establishment and growth of NESCo, the only financially successful British electric power company. Temporal bracketing was adopted to evaluate two distinct time periods: emergence from 1889 to 1899; and growth from 1900 to 1914. Family, business and social networks together with geographical and political factors secured the company’s dominant position. The structural relationship with Merz & McLellan contributed to growth through acquisitions, joint ventures, and access to new markets.

Citation

McGovern, T., & McLean, T. (2017). The genesis of the electricity supply industry in Britain: A case study of NESCo from 1889 to 1914. Business History, 59(5), 667-689. https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2016.1261827

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Nov 11, 2016
Online Publication Date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication Date	Jul 4, 2017
Deposit Date	Nov 30, 2016
Publicly Available Date	Jun 8, 2018
Journal	Business History
Print ISSN	0007-6791
Electronic ISSN	1743-7938
Publisher	Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	59
Issue	5
Pages	667-689
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2016.1261827
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1369005

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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Business history on 08/12/2016, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00076791.2016.1261827.