On 7 November in 1927, St James Power Station was officially opened by Sir Hugh Clifford, who was then the Governor of the British Straits Settlements (comprising the three British colonies of Penang, Malacca and Singapore). At its full output-capacity, the power plant produced approximately 22,000 kW of electricity, much of which was supplied to the Pasir Panjang, Bukit Timah, Tanglin, Geylang, Katong and East Coast areas and districts. It reached out to around 28,255 people, which was at least 18 times more people on the island than before. Locals could hire electric fans and other domestic electrical appliances in a scheme from an electricity showroom located at Orchard Road. Equipped with the most advanced and modern construction and machinery, it was deemed to be capable of supplying the power needs of Singapore for a good many years to come.