THE MUNICIPAL LIFE OF NORWICH III 
same time it must not be forgotten that the irregular development of an 
ancient city is often part of its charm, and provided that proper sanitary 
conditions of living can be obtained, it is important to retain as much 
of the ancient character of the city as is possible. Norwich could hardly 
contemplate a redevelopment analogous to that of a modern American 
city. 
ELECTRICITY. 
Turning to another phase of Council work, that of electric supply, the 
Norwich Corporation area of supply extends over 700 square miles, and 
is the largest area in the country operated by a municipal authority. 
The major part of the area is rural in character, and by reason of the low 
density of population involves special problems in development. A 
district of 100 square miles in Norfolk, being part of the Norwich area, 
was selected by the Electricity Commissioners as a demonstration area 
of supply, with the object of testing the actual demand in a typical rural 
neighbourhood. A grant is being made by the Government towards 
this scheme, the idea being to obtain as intensive a development as possible 
without waiting for a demand, and without regard to the economic factor. 
The scheme has not been in operation for sufficient time to judge the result 
of the experiment, but it is probable that it will become self-supporting 
within a comparatively short period. 
The electricity undertaking was purchased by the Corporation from 
the Norwich Electricity Company in 1902, and it is interesting to note 
the progress made since that date. In 1904 the total number of con- 
sumers was 3,010, while in 1934 the consumers numbered 43,264. In 
the same years the number of units sold increased from 1,235,180 to 
29,642,459. The number of electric cookers connected has risen from 
47 in 1917 to 7,383 in 1934. In the city area approximately 85 per cent. 
of the total possible number of domestic consumers are now receiving 
supplies, and one-half of the remaining 15 per cent. represent houses 
included in the Corporation’s slum clearance programme. Quite apart 
from the general progress of electricity in the country as a whole, these 
figures do indicate that the Corporation have shown considerable energy 
and foresight in developing the business of electricity supply during their 
period of ownership. 
So far as generation is concerned, a new power station was built in 
1926 and since that date additions have been made from time to time. 
_ The present capacity of the station is 42,500 kw., and its efficiency is 
proved by the fact that it is a base-load station operated throughout the 
year on behalf of the Central Electricity Board. 
WaTER SUPPLY. 
The water undertaking of the Corporation was purchased from a 
private company in 1921, and has developed considerably since then. 
In 1922 the total number of supplies, both domestic and meter, was 
31,440, and in 1934 this figure had increased to 40,089. Since the 
acquisition of the undertaking, capital expenditure to the amount of 
£60,000 has been provided out of revenue, and charges have been reduced. 
