SWALEC
Encyclopedia
SWALEC was an electricity supply and distribution company which was bought out in 1996 for £872m following the de-regulation of the electricity supply industry in the UK.
The purchaser, newly privatised company Welsh Water
, rebranded itself as Hyder
. The business plan was to make significant logistical savings by combining the field activities of Electricity
and Water operations by co-locating in a reduced suite of offices and operational depots.
SWALEC was the sponsor of Wales WRU Challenge Cup
, named the SWALEC Cup. The SWALEC Cup Final was the last game at Wales’ National Ground
in 1997 before the development of the Millennium Stadium
.
In 1997 SWALEC Gas was set up to take advantage of the deregulation of the gas market in the UK which took place in stages from 1997 to 1998. An advertising campaign was launched featuring Wimbledon F.C.
and Wales
footballer Vinnie Jones
.
In February 2000, the retail electricity and gas business under the SWALEC brand was sold to British Energy
for a reported £105m. The sale included the SWALEC retail brand, whilst Hyder retained the SWALEC electricity distribution business (i.e. running the electricity network) which was renamed Infralec
.
In August 2000 Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) agreed to buy the electricity and gas supply arms of SWALEC, along with the brand, from British Energy
for a reported price of £210m.
In September 2000, Western Power Distribution
brought Hyder
for £565 million, sold Welsh Water
and renamed Infralec
, WPD South Wales.
SWALEC remains a brand used by SSE for the supply of electricity and gas in Wales.
The purchaser, newly privatised company Welsh Water
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
, rebranded itself as Hyder
Hyder (defunct company)
Hyder was a Welsh water, gas and electricity multi-utility and infrastructure company created in 1996. It broke up in 2001 following a financial crisis.-History:...
. The business plan was to make significant logistical savings by combining the field activities of Electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
and Water operations by co-locating in a reduced suite of offices and operational depots.
SWALEC was the sponsor of Wales WRU Challenge Cup
WRU Challenge Cup
The WRU Challenge Cup , or its full name of the Welsh Rugby Union Challenge Cup, is Wales' premier knockout rugby union competition and is organised by the Welsh Rugby Union....
, named the SWALEC Cup. The SWALEC Cup Final was the last game at Wales’ National Ground
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
in 1997 before the development of the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
.
In 1997 SWALEC Gas was set up to take advantage of the deregulation of the gas market in the UK which took place in stages from 1997 to 1998. An advertising campaign was launched featuring Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones
Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones is an English film actor and retired Welsh footballer.Born in Hertfordshire, England, Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team, having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the...
.
British Energy
British Energy was the UK's largest electricity generation company by volume, before being taken over by Électricité de France in 2009. British Energy operated eight former UK state-owned nuclear power stations and one coal fired power station....
for a reported £105m. The sale included the SWALEC retail brand, whilst Hyder retained the SWALEC electricity distribution business (i.e. running the electricity network) which was renamed Infralec
Infralec
Infralec was the electricity distribution business owned by Hyder. Infralec was established in February 2000 to operate the electricity distribution network previously operated under the SWALEC brand before Swalec was sold to British Energy....
.
In August 2000 Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) agreed to buy the electricity and gas supply arms of SWALEC, along with the brand, from British Energy
British Energy
British Energy was the UK's largest electricity generation company by volume, before being taken over by Électricité de France in 2009. British Energy operated eight former UK state-owned nuclear power stations and one coal fired power station....
for a reported price of £210m.
In September 2000, Western Power Distribution
Western Power Distribution
Western Power Distribution is the trading identity of four electricity distribution companies - WPD South West , WPD South Wales and WPD Midlands...
brought Hyder
Hyder
Hyder can refer to:*Hyder, Alaska, a town in the United States*Hyder , a former UK utility infrastructure company*Hyder Consulting, a current infrastructure company, former subsidiary of Hyder*the Arabic name Haydar...
for £565 million, sold Welsh Water
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
and renamed Infralec
Infralec
Infralec was the electricity distribution business owned by Hyder. Infralec was established in February 2000 to operate the electricity distribution network previously operated under the SWALEC brand before Swalec was sold to British Energy....
, WPD South Wales.
SWALEC remains a brand used by SSE for the supply of electricity and gas in Wales.