Public Electricity supply in the Highlands is synonymous with "Hydro". In fact, the first Hydro-Electric development in Scotland, and the second only in Britain was in Greenock, Renfrewshire in 1885. This experiment by the Policy Board was intended primarily to demonstrate to the public the advantages of such a facility. The scheme only operated for some two years, hardly long enough to prove its economic
advantages, but it was an unqualified success technically.

                                     Kilmorack Falls before the Hydro

The next successful venture into this tapping of a most valuable natural resource was much nearer home.
The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey at Fort Augustus constructed in 1890 an 18 kilowatt water turbine on one of the local streams to supply the Abbey and some 800 inhabitatants of the village. Fort William was next, six years later with two 60 kilowatt turbines to provide power for the 3,000 inhabitants of the town.

The ensuing story of Hydro-Electric development in the Highlands is a fascinating one in itself both for its political and technical aspects. Two names stand out in particular. Sir Edward MacColl and Tom Johnston, whose far sightedness brought enormous benefits to the people of the Highlands, were two of the champions of the development of this natural resource. Opposition to Hydro-Electric Schemes came from many sources. Coal mining and sporting game interests probably chief among them. One can look back with the benefit of hindsight in this modern age to gauge the sagacity of men such as these. Tom Johnston remarked at the time that it was wrong "to hand over to a private corporation, for purposes of gain, the great national resources of our country".

                                       Kilmorack Dam Present Day

The Grampian Electricity Supply Company proposed in 1929, a scheme to develop the waters of Loch
Affric, Loch Mullardoch and Loch Monar, which are the main headwaters of the River Beauly. This scheme although supported locally was rejected by a Select Committee of the House of Lords on the grounds that the City of Inverness would receive no benefit and that the natural beauty of the area of Loch Affric would be harmed irrevocably to the detriment of the tourist trade.

                                           Aigas Dam

The Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Bill was steered through the House of Commons in February 1943 by Tom Johnston. It faced many difficulties before being finally passed in August of the same year. At last "an increasing number of farmers, crofters, lumberjacks and fishermen (would) enjoy for the first time the blessings of electricity in the home and (would) be able to face as never before the long darkness of the winter months".

                                           Aigas Gorge

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board came into being under it’s first Chairman Lord Airlie. The Board’s Panel of Technical Advisers first met in October 1943, with the Deputy Board Chairman and Chief Executive Edward MacColl, who proved to be a driving force in bringing forward construction schemes, among them No. 62: Rivers Affric, Cannich, Farrar, Glass and Beauly" with a potential annual output of 6 ,274 million units of electricity.

Many difficulties had still to be overcome. Lord Airlie suffered much personal criticism in his enthusiasm for the objectives of the Board and the disappointment of the rejection of a proposal for the Hydro-Electric development of Loch Duntelchaig near Inverness. A rejection mainly engineered by the Inverness Burgh Council, proved the last straw and he resigned from Chairmanship, but only when he was assured that his successor would be Tom Johnston.

Constructional Scheme No. 7 - the Mullardoch-Fasnakyle-Affric Project was published in August 1946. No objections were raised on grounds of amenity and the Scheme passed through all its stages without opposition and became operative in February 1947. A great deal of work was necessary before actual construction could begin. Two labour camps, one at Cannich and one at Cozac near Mullardoch, were built to accommodate a total of 2,100 men. Offices and workshops were also built, new roads were constructed and existing ones were improved. Finally the Project was under way.

To find out more about Hydro Electricity in Scotland visit the Power From the Glens part of the Hydro Electric Website.