VPRS 9933 Applications For Supply of Power Submitted to Victorian Railways

Full description

This series comprises files containing inward and copies of outward correspondence maintained by the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Victorian Railway Commissioners (VA 2876) from 1918 to 1922. The correspondence in these files contains applications by government bodies such as Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board and companies for the supply of electricity in bulk. The files also contain agreements and details of, technical arrangements for the supply of electricity to their premises.

The Railway Commissioners were authorised to supply electricity in bulk to public bodies, organisations and individuals under section 3 of the Railways Act 1918 (No.2492). Schedule 1 of section 3 C (ii) enabled the Railway Commissioners to supply electricity to businesses in parts of Port Melbourne and the whole of the municipal districts of Footscray, Williamstown, Werribee and Braybrook.

The transfer of the function to the State Electricity Commission (SEC), was authorised by the proclamation of the State Electricity Commission Act 1920 (No.3104). Section 9 of this legislation effectively rendered the SEC an intermediary. The Victorian Railway Commissioners were to generate the electricity to supply to the SEC, who would in turn supply the electricity to clients who had existing agreements with the Railway Commissioners.