Our History
EA Technology has evolved from being the publically-owned UK Electricity Council’s Research and Development Centre in the 1960s, to our present position as an independent, employee-owned limited company with customers from California to China. Originally established to focus on electricity distribution and use - today we work with clients in the electricity, energy, infra-structure and associated sectors, delivering innovative solutions through a blend of technical consultancy, electrical services, specialist instruments and software.
Many of the innovations that EA Technology has pioneered since 1966 have formed the foundation of the modern electricity industry, making networks more efficient, reliable and safer, helping consumers in their every day lives and working to protect the planet for future generations.
Our history falls into three periods from our establishment as a nationalised industry R&D body, through a period of transition and survival post-privatisation, to the EA Technology of today.
Nationalised Industry R&D body (1966-1990)
The Electricity Council Research Centre (ECRC) set up in 1966 as part of UK nationalised electricity system. As effectively a grant funded entity, its role was to investigate new ways for people to both use electricity and the ways it was distributed to customers. At its peak ECRC employed around 600 people from the UK base in Capenhurst. Some key developments in this period include:
- 1969: ECRC invents Feolite for storage radiators
- 1972: EC and Chloride joint company to develop ECRC sodium sulphur battery
- 1974: Halogen hob invented
- 1980: Developed high temperature heat pump for drying timber and distilling whisky
- 1983: Identification techniques for Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) developed
- 1985: Lightning location system invented
- 1990: Privatisation of the UK electricity industry - new company name established
Transition & Survival (1990-2004)
Upon privatisation of the industry in 1990, EA Technology ‘spun out’ of National ownership to become an independent organisation. The funding from the network operators and energy suppliers was progressively ramped-down, and EA Technology made the transition to a commercial entity.
This was a dark period for the company that saw significant numbers of staff leave the company (a low point of 80 staff), and a selling-off of significant amounts of Intellectual Property. Some key events in this period include:
- 1991: Became E.A. Technology (part of Electricity Association)
- 1993: EA Technology privatized, owned principally by the Directors of the company
- 2000: Sold assets (including property) to stay in business; Splits into EA Technology and C-Tech Innovation
EA Technology (2004 – present)
A change of management and redistribution of shares in 2004 marked the beginning of a change of fortunes for the company. EA Technology was relaunched as an employee-owned organisation, and focus was put into developing and delivering a strategy of sustainable, long-term, growth. Some key events to date include:
- 2004: Company restructured to spread ownership of shares among staff
- 2007: Wins Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2007 Britain's top industrial honour, awarded for groundbreaking UltraTEV Detector™
- 2008: Open offices in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi; Acquire blah d blah design Ltd; Open Energy Innovation Centre
- 2009: Restructure for growth to a Group of companies; open subsidiary in Brisbane, Australia
- 2010: Acquired ‘No Outage’ as USA subsidiary
- 2011: Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2011 'for continuous innovation over five years', covering the development and success of EA Technology's whole family of UltraTEV products