million gallons in 1933. From about 1904, business began to decline as electric power became more popular. The company began to replace its steam engines with electric motors from 1923. At its peak, the network consisted of of pipes, and the total power output was about . The system finally closed in June 1977. The company, as a UK statutory authority, had the legal right to dig up the public highways to install and maintain its pipe network. This made it attractive to Mercury Communications (a subsidiary of Cable & Wireless) who bought the company and used the pipes as telecommunications ducts. Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, the last of the five to close, later became an arts centre and restaurant. See also Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company Manchester Hydraulic Power References Further reading Electric power companies of the United Kingdom Hydraulics Infrastructure in London Subterranea of the United Kingdom Utilities of the United Kingdom Energy companies established in 1883 Companies disestablished in 1977 1883 establishments in England