VPRS 9959 Chief Electrical Inspector's Correspondence Files re Rural Electrical Supply Undertakings

This series comprises files containing inward and copies of outward correspondence from the Chief Electrical Inspector who reported to the State Electricity Commission (SEC) from 1919. The Chief Electrical Inspector was required to administer the Electric Light and Power Act 1928 and subsequent legislation. Prior to the establishment of the SEC in 1919, the function of Chief Electrical Inspector came under the umbrella of the Public Works Department (VA 669).The correspondence in these files consists of applications from suppliers to supply electricity for public and consumers in country towns. Normally under s. 6 of the legislation, the authorisation of such applications took the form of an Order-in-Council. However, the SEC could grant permission to waive this requirement if the number of consumers to be supplied by the applicant was 25 or less. Most of the files in this series contain applications for areas with 25 consumers or less. The applicant was also required to fulfil certain administrative and technical requirements.The correspondence in the files also documents the administration of s. 12 of the Act which required the potential undertaker to seek the approval of the council concerned. Councils in turn were required, under s. 21 (1), to conduct a poll of ratepayers to seek their approval before entering into any agreement with the potential undertaker.For related files see VPRS 8892/P3 General Subject Correspondence Files and Registration Cards, VPRS 9934 Applications for Orders-in-Council under the Electric Light and Power Act 1896 and VPRS 9671 Electric Supply Undertakings Correspondence Files.