specific departments of state and regulatory bodies have had responsibility for policy implementation, regulation and control. History The supply of energy in the nineteenth century – in the form of coal, gas and electricity – was largely by private companies and municipal gas and electricity undertakings. Public control of these supplies was generally in the hands of local authorities. Such control was exercised through limiting prices and dividends and by encouraging competition. State intervention was through legislation such as the Mines and Collieries Act 1842, and the Gasworks Clauses Act 1847 which restricted company dividends to ten per cent. The Electric Lighting Act 1882 established control over electricity supply industry from its earliest days. It required undertakings to obtain a license or order from the Board of Trade to generate and supply electricity. The Board of Trade and the Home Office therefore provided early oversight and control of the energy industries. New government bodies Between 1919 and 1941 the newly created Ministry of Transport assumed control of the electricity industry. Under wartime conditions the Ministry of Fuel and Power was established in 1942 to coordinate energy supplies. UK Government policy was enacted through a succession of Ministries and Departments. These are summarised in the following table. Other statutory bodies In addition to the above ministries and departments a number of regulatory bodies have been established to regulate and supervise specific aspects of energy policy and operation. These include: HM Inspectorate of Mines (1842–date), Electricity Commissioners (1919–48) to secure regional coordination, Central Electricity Board (1926–48) to control supplies and construct own and operate the national grid, National Coal Board (1947–87), owned and managed coal mining industry, British Electricity Authority (1948–55) to own and operate electricity generation and transmission, Gas Council (1948–1973), to provide supervisory and advisory function on policy, Central Electricity Authority (1955–57) to own and operate electricity generation and transmission outside Scotland, Electricity Council (1958–1990), provide supervisory and advisory function on policy, Office of Electricity Regulation (Offer) (1990–2000), economic regulator independent of government, Office of Gas Supply (Ofgas) (1986–2000), economic regulator independent of government, Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) (2000– date), to protect the interests of consumers, where possible by promoting competition, Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) (2000– date), Offshore Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), Oil and Gas Authority (2015–date), to regulate, influence and promote the UK oil and gas industry to maximise the economic recovery