How the world’s first electric grid was built

A detailed historical account of how the UK built its national electricity grid, starting from the chaotic early days of 50 incompatible local systems in London (1918) through to the creation of the National Grid in the 1930s. The story covers the AC vs DC battle, the impact of WWI on electricity demand, failed attempts at voluntary interconnection, the eventual nationalization under the 1947 Electricity Act, the construction of the Supergrid in the 1950s, Thatcher-era privatization in 1989, and the 2024 renationalization of grid operations. Key themes include how regulatory failures, local political rivalries, and misaligned incentives delayed the transition from fragmented local systems to a unified national network.