Watts under London

By any standards London is an exciting city which is why 25 million tourist s visit the capital every year from all over the world. They come to be ent ertained in theatreland, to be thrilled by leisure attractions, to observe classical and modern architecture and to personally experience London's his toric sites and culture. This Chairman's Address takes the reader on a jour ney through a London that few tourists know exists. It follows the developm ent of the system that feeds London with its lifeblood, a system which was non-existent 120 years ago and which now charges every feature and business with energy-the power distribution network. It uncovers some of London's h istory, explores London's unique geology and follows technological developm ents-civil and mechanical as well as electrical-all of which can be attribu ted to the form of power system we have today. The Address looks forward to the Millennium Exhibition at Greenwich. Finally it takes a view of electri city distribution beyond 2000, in particular the future impact of regulatio n, competition and new technology.