Their initial objective was to supply electricity for "4,500 ten candle-power lamps, of which 3,000 could be alight at one time."

NESCo's first major step toward achieving this goal was the erection of their first power station, at Pandon Dene in the city's east end.

[1][4][5] The Mordey generators could not operate in parallel and so each time load was transferred from one machine to another, supply would be interrupted and customers would notice a distinct flicker in the lights.

[1] The station burned 2,700 tonnes of coal per year, all of which was delivered by horse and cart.

[8] It was one of five sub-stations which provided electricity for the North Eastern Railway's Riverside Branch.