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History

A history of the Great British gas industry

From a Cornish engineer's coal-gas experiments to the debate about hydrogen: some of the moments that shaped the industry you now work in.

Swipe the cards, or use the Earlier and Later buttons.

Swipe, or use the left and right arrow keys, to move between events.

  • 1790s

    Murdoch lights his home with gas

    Murdoch House on Cross Street, Redruth, Cornwall, a stone terraced house.
    Technology

  • 1806

    First gasworks for a mill

    1806
    Technology

  • 1807

    Winsor lights Pall Mall

    A gas flame burning from a lamp on a stone pillar outside a grand building.
    Technology

  • 1812

    Gas Light and Coke Company chartered

    The Gas Light and Coke Company offices in Wembley, a low stone building with the name in large letters above its shop windows.
    Organisations

  • 1813

    Westminster Bridge lit by gas

    An ornate green lamp standard on Westminster Bridge beside the river.
    Technology

  • 1841

    Gas cooking spreads

    1841
    Technology

  • 1847

    Gasworks Clauses Act 1847

    1847
    Law and regulation

  • 1863

    IGEM is founded

    1863
    Organisations

  • 1870s

    Slot meters

    1870s
    Technology

  • 1948

    The gas industry is nationalised

    The cover of a North Thames Gas Board booklet, with the board's coat of arms.
    Industry structure

  • 1960s

    North Sea gas discovered

    Aerial view of the gas terminal at Easington on the Yorkshire coast.
    Technology

  • 1967

    The switch to natural gas

    A man lighting a tall gas flame beside Big Ben in London.
    Technology

  • 1968

    Ronan Point collapse

    The damaged corner of the Ronan Point tower block, with its floors torn open.
    Safety and registration

  • 1970

    CORGI begins as a voluntary register

    1970
    Safety and registration

  • 1972

    British Gas Corporation created

    1972
    Industry structure

  • 1974

    The Health and Safety Executive

    The Health and Safety Executive logo, white lettering on a dark red background.
    Law and regulation

  • 1986

    British Gas is privatised

    A blue and white British Gas Southern van parked on a London street.
    Law and regulation

  • 1991

    CORGI registration compulsory

    The CORGI logo, white lettering on an orange shield.
    Safety and registration

  • 1995

    Gas Act 1995 opens the way to competition

    1995
    Law and regulation

  • 1995

    The ACS competence scheme

    1995
    Safety and registration

  • 1996

    Customers can choose their supplier

    1996
    Industry structure

  • 1996

    Gas Safety (Management) Regulations

    1996
    Law and regulation

  • 1997

    Centrica formed from British Gas

    1997
    Industry structure

  • 1998

    Installation and Use Regulations 1998

    1998
    Law and regulation

  • 1999

    Ofgem is formed

    1999
    Organisations

  • 2002

    Transco's owner joins National Grid

    2002
    Industry structure

  • 2005

    Four gas networks sold

    2005
    Industry structure

  • 2009

    Gas Safe Register replaces CORGI

    The CORGI Gas logo above the Gas Safe Register logo.
    Safety and registration

  • 2011

    Smart meter rollout begins

    A white smart gas meter with a small display.
    Technology

  • 2017

    Cadent takes over the networks

    A white Cadent Gas van parked outside a glass-fronted office.
    Industry structure

  • 2018

    Regulations amended; L56 fifth edition

    2018
    Law and regulation

  • 2018

    IGEM adopts the Unsafe Situations Procedure

    2018
    Safety and registration

  • 2024

    Hydrogen trials scaled back

    2024
    Technology

  • 2026

    Hydrogen heating decision due

    Diagram of the H100 Fife project: wind power makes hydrogen, which is stored and piped to homes.
    Technology

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About this timeline

This is a short showcase, not a full history, and every entry is paraphrased from the sources listed under it. Where sources disagree on a year, only the decade is given or the difference is noted. It is an independent history: it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gas Safe Register, IGEM, HSE, British Gas, Cadent or any other body named. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the community page.

Picture credits

  • Murdoch lights his home with gas: Photo: Tim Green, CC BY 2.0. Source (opens in a new tab)
  • Winsor lights Pall Mall: Creator to be confirmed.
  • Gas Light and Coke Company chartered: Creator to be confirmed.
  • Westminster Bridge lit by gas: Creator to be confirmed.
  • The gas industry is nationalised: Creator to be confirmed.
  • North Sea gas discovered: Photo: Norsk Hydro ASA, 2002, Use permitted with acknowledgement of the source. Source (opens in a new tab)
  • The switch to natural gas: Creator to be confirmed.
  • Ronan Point collapse: Creator to be confirmed.
  • The Health and Safety Executive: Logo: Health and Safety Executive.
  • British Gas is privatised: Creator to be confirmed.
  • CORGI registration compulsory: Logo: CORGI.
  • Gas Safe Register replaces CORGI: Logos: CORGI and Gas Safe Register.
  • Smart meter rollout begins: Creator to be confirmed.
  • Cadent takes over the networks: Creator to be confirmed.
  • Hydrogen heating decision due: Diagram: SGN (H100 Fife).