Chapter 126: The Potential Undertaking
The king noticed Ernest’s hesitation almost immediately.
"That complicated?"
Ernest met his gaze and nodded.
"Far more complicated than electrifying the palace."
"Explain."
Without another word, Ernest walked toward the blackboard standing beside the wall. He picked up a piece of chalk and drew three large headings across its surface.
Power Generation
Transmission
Distribution
King Edward and Lord Ashford watched in silence.
"The electric lamp," Ernest began, tapping the first line with the chalk, "is actually the smallest and least expensive part of the entire system. A city cannot be illuminated simply by purchasing thousands of lamps and connecting wires to them. Before a single street can be lit, electricity must first be produced in sufficient quantity."
He tapped the first heading.
"Power generation."
His chalk moved to the second.
"That electricity must then travel from the generating station to the districts where it will be consumed."
Another tap.
"Transmission."
Finally, he pointed toward the third heading.
"Once it reaches those districts, it has to be divided and delivered safely into individual streets, buildings, and eventually homes."
He stepped back from the board.
"Distribution."
Lord Ashford studied the three headings.
"So we’re really discussing three separate systems."
"Three parts of one system," Ernest corrected. "If any one of them is missing, nothing works. The lamps remain dark."
He began sketching a simple diagram.
A power station stood outside the city walls. Thick lines stretched toward several smaller buildings inside the capital before branching into thinner lines that spread through the surrounding districts.
"The generating station produces electricity," Ernest explained. "Primary conductors carry it toward district stations. Those stations divide the supply before sending it into government buildings, markets, factories, military installations, and public streets."
King Edward leaned closer to examine the drawing.
"What exactly are these district stations?"
"They control the electrical supply. They divide it between different sections of the city, provide protection, isolate damaged circuits, and allow maintenance without shutting down the entire network."
He deliberately avoided discussing transformers in detail.
The concept was sound, but practical transformer construction still required additional experimentation. For a project this size, he needed far more research before deciding whether alternating current or direct current would ultimately become the kingdom’s standard.
For now, simplicity remained the safest choice.
King Edward pointed toward one of the boxes Ernest had drawn.
"Would these stations be large?"
"Some would occupy dedicated buildings. Others could be considerably smaller depending upon the district they serve."
Lord Ashford glanced down at the city map.
"How many?"
"For an initial network?" Ernest considered the layout of Belfast. "Perhaps six."
"And eventually?"
"For the entire capital... several dozen."
The Prime Minister’s expression tightened.
King Edward remained thoughtful.
"And the streets themselves?"
"Every major road would require poles or underground conduits. Every street lamp requires wiring. Every connected building needs properly installed circuits, switches, protective devices, and trained electricians capable of maintaining them safely."
Returning to the blackboard, Ernest wrote several categories beneath the diagram.
Government Buildings.
Military Headquarters.
Markets.
Industrial Workshops.
Street Lighting.
Residential Districts.
"The first phase should never attempt to reach every home," he continued. "Doing so would consume enormous resources while providing relatively little return. We begin where electricity creates the greatest immediate value."
King Edward nodded slowly.
"The palace."
"Yes."
"Government ministries."
"Yes."
"The military."
"Correct."
"The central market and major roads."
"Exactly."
Lord Ashford looked thoughtfully at the list.
"What population are you designing this around?"
"The Royal Capital and its surrounding districts contain approximately five hundred thousand residents."
The Prime Minister nodded.
"Close enough."
Ernest wrote another figure beneath the categories.
Initial Demand: 8,000 Kilowatts
"If we limit ourselves to public buildings, major workshops, commercial districts, and primary streets," he explained, "the city would likely require between six and eight megawatts during evening peak demand."
King Edward frowned slightly.
"How much larger is that than Oriel Estate?"
"Approximately fifty times."
Silence settled over the room.
Lord Ashford slowly leaned back in his chair.
Only now was the true scale becoming clear.
Ernest wrote another line beneath the first.
Future Demand: 20,000+ Kilowatts
Lord Ashford immediately noticed it.
"Why would demand increase so dramatically?"
"Because lighting won’t remain the only purpose."
Ernest pointed toward the city map spread across the table.
"Factories will replace line shafts with electric motors. Water companies will adopt electric pumps. Workshops will purchase powered machinery. Businesses will extend their operating hours. Wealthy households will request electrical service. Government offices will continue expanding."
He looked directly at the Prime Minister.
"Once electricity becomes available, people will invent uses neither of us has considered."
King Edward smiled faintly.
"You sound remarkably certain."
"I’ve witnessed the same pattern every time a new technology entered the market."
He raised one finger.
"Soap began as a hygiene product."
A second.
"It became an industry."
A third.
"Steam engines powered a single workshop."
He continued.
"Now they operate factories, mines, mills, and transportation."
Finally, he folded his arms.
"The telegraph began as a military communication system."
Lord Ashford finished the thought himself.
"And merchants immediately wanted access."
"Exactly."
Electricity would be no different.
If anything, it would spread even faster.
The Prime Minister slowly closed his notebook.
"Now tell us the unpleasant part."
Ernest already knew what he meant.
"The cost."
"Precisely."
He unfolded the pages he had prepared during the carriage ride.
"An eight-megawatt steam generating station would require multiple boilers, engines or turbines, generators, cooling systems, coal storage, water treatment facilities, workshops, warehouses, and permanent maintenance buildings."
He slid the first estimate across the table.
Power Generation Plant: 130 Million Riels
Lord Ashford read the figure twice without speaking.
Ernest continued.
"High-capacity transmission lines, district stations, protection equipment, switching facilities, and supporting infrastructure would require approximately one hundred seventy million."
Another sheet joined the first.
Transmission Network: 170 Million Riels
He placed a third estimate beside it.
"Street distribution, utility poles, conductors, public lighting, and government building connections would require another two hundred million."
King Edward quietly added the numbers together.
"We’ve already reached five hundred million."
"Yes."
"And we’re not finished."
"No, Your Majesty."
The room became completely silent.
Ernest laid down the remaining pages one by one.
Building Wiring and Customer Installations: 90 Million Riels
Training, Maintenance Facilities, and Emergency Equipment: 45 Million Riels
Engineering Surveys, Land Acquisition, and Reserve Capital: 65 Million Riels
Lord Ashford reached for a pencil and performed the calculation himself.
When he finished, he stared at the total.
"Seven hundred million riels."
"Approximately."
"For one city?"
"For the first major electrical system within one city," Ernest corrected. "Complete coverage would require considerably more."
King Edward rose from his chair and slowly walked toward the window overlooking the capital.
For the first time since the meeting began, excitement gave way to quiet calculation.
Seven hundred million riels was not merely an expensive project.
It represented a national investment.
The same amount could finance armies. Expand the royal fleet. Construct strategic roads throughout Belfast. Strengthen border fortifications. Or sustain government operations for years.
This is going to be a huge undertaking.