The British National Electricity Grid was a relatively new departure at the beginning of WW2.  The staff's view of their early accommodation may be gauged by their nickname for it - "The Hut".  One should never say that things cannot get worse; at the outset of hostilities, their headquarters were moved to this disused London Underground station.  Staff referred to this place as "The Hole".  Best regards, JR.

The Hole.

Devastated Duerwiss, saturated by allied bombs.



The air  war

Britain's electricity production during WW2 was based overwhelmingly on coal (this remained true, actually, until the late 1970s at least).  Coal was also in demand for direct use by industry, and for military use.  In consequence, in spite of Britain's huge coal resources, and determined efforts to increase production, coal, and therefore electricity, was in chronically short supply throughout the war, a shortage that, if anything, grew worse as victory drew near.  In these circumstances, ordinary civilian use tended to be of very low priority; shortages and power cuts became common.  Here, a theatre box office soldiers on through a wartime power cut on candle power.  How they managed the performance, I have no idea.  Best regards, JR.