The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was formed under the 1957 Electricity Act, which brought about a reorganisation of the electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom. The aim of the act was to decentralise the industry, and the CEGB was one of two statutory bodies created by the Act.

Representatives from the CEGB worked with officers of the Electricity Council, the other statutory body established under the Act, to formulate general policy for the electricity supply industry.

The CEGB owned, operated and extended the network of power stations and main transmission lines that supplied electricity to the twelve Area Boards of England and Wales. It did not sell direct to customers except where specifically authorised by the Secretary of State for Energy. It did not operate in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The 1989 Electricity Act enabled the sale of the industry to private shareholders. When the Act came into force on 31 March 1990, the CEGB was separated into the National Grid Company and two electricity generation companies, PowerGen and National Power. The CEGB was formally dissolved in 2001.