Monopoly Supply
The rapid growth in electric appliance usage in the early part of the 20th century contributed to an explosive growth in electrification around the world.
The supply of electricity to homes, offices, shops, factories, farms, and mines became the responsibility of public utilities, which were either private organizations subject to monopoly regulation or public authorities owned by local, state or national bodies.
In some countries a statutory or government-granted monopoly was created, which was controlled by legislation (for example Eskom in South Africa).
Electricity retailing in the period from approximately 1890 to 1990 consisted of managing the connection, disconnection and billing of electricity consumers by the local monopoly supplier.
In many utilities there was a marketing function which encouraged electricity usage when there was excess capacity to supply and encouraged conservation when supply was tight.
Read more about this topic: Electricity Retailing
Famous quotes containing the words monopoly and/or supply:
“Unless you become more watchful in your states and check the spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges you will in the end find that ... the control over your dearest interests has passed into the hands of these corporations.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“Friends and contemporaries should supply only the name and date, and leave it to posterity to write the epitaph.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)